Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing are having quite the run now, and their latest coup sees the sport’s reigning P4P king Terence Crawford headlining the first major Saudi promotion in the United States.
The brilliant unbeaten Crawford (40-0) will step up to 154lbs to challenge Israil Madrimov (10-0-1) for the WBA and WBO interim world super-welterweight world title on August 3 in Los Angeles .
Crawford stepping up from welterweight after that brilliant demolition of his great rival Errol Spence Jr in July 2023 is noteworthy enough, but not as noteworthy as the move from the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and that man Turki Alalshikh.
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Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season has been redefining the sport of boxing in recent months, and will also provide the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years next month when Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk goes down on May 18.

But until now all the big fights currently made for Riyadh Season were taking place in Saudi Arabia. Not any more though with Los Angeles, California the venue for Crawford vs Madrimov. The bout will take place at BMO Stadium, home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC.
Crawford’s move up to 154 for now ends any possible talk of a return with Spence at 147lbs, or a potential showdown with Ryan Garcia after his epic defeat of Devin Haney last weekend. It will though only further ignite speculation that one day ‘Bud’ could meet Mexican great Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Hearn on Terence Crawford coup
Hearn himself revealed: “This is a fantastic fight between a pound-for-pound great and one of the best World champions in the sport. Terence is a pound-for-pound great and continues to strive to be the very best, but in Israil, he meets a hungry champion that has no intention of relinquishing his title in his first defense – this promises to be one of the fights of the year. The undercard has to be one of if not the best we have ever seen for a US card – get ready for a huge night on August 3 in Los Angeles”.
Crawford meanwhile said: “I’m proud to partner with Riyadh Season and HE Turki Alalshikh on their first boxing event in the United States. I cannot wait to get back in the ring in my fourth weight class and remind the world why I’m the best pound for pound fighter in the world.
“Israil Madrimov is a tremendous and entertaining fighter, but on August 3, he will be my next victim. This is the Terence Crawford era.”
Crawford vs Madrimov undercard
As ever with Riyadh Season shows, the undercard is absolutely stacked with a heavyweight bout topping the supporting cast.
That sees former unified Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record to Daniel Dubois in Riyadh in December last year.
Former Super-Welterweight World champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr, subject to the outcome of his fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend, while David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a Light-Heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.
Andy Cruz, the Olympic Lightweight gold medalist, continues his Lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.