Crawford vs. Madrimov kicks off Riyadh Season in Los Angeles
Undefeated Terence Crawford seeks a title in his fourth weight class when he challenges 154-pound interim champ Israil Madrimov for his belt at BMO Stadium
HOLLYWOOD — Crammed into the courtyard in front of the TCL Chinese Theater, the last promotional event for Saturday’s boxing card featuring undefeated Terence Crawford came off like a blockbuster film.
“Jurassic Park,” to be exact.
No expense had been spared for the first international offering under the Riyadh Season banner, which, in part, seeks to market the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through combat sports.
Like the dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s book, all involved expect that the attractions inside BMO Stadium’s fistic-themed park will turn violent, too.
The latest endeavor pits Crawford, seeking a championship in his fourth weight class, against Uzbekistan’s 154-pound WBA and WBO interim champion Israil Madrimov.
This marks the first fight for Crawford (40-0-0, 31 KO) after stopping Errol Spence last summer to become the undisputed welterweight champion and one of the first names mentioned in the pound-for-pound debate.
Moving up in weight again, the 36-year-old Nebraskan feels stronger and more energized, he said, since he placed less stress on his body to cut weight.
“Terence Crawford is one of my favorite boxers and one of the best boxers in the world,” the 29-year-old Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KO) said. “I am very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement, and I will Inshallah.”
Tickets were slow to sell at first. Brokers gobbled up thousands of seats and put them on the market at prices fans weren’t ready to pay.
This week, as the big-money promotion ramped up – an open workout and bouts took place Wednesday at the Santa Monica Pier; cars in neighborhoods across the city were papered with handbills that featured Saudi and Riyadh Season logos above the fighters’ heads; and the sidewalk-closing final press conference — sales have skyrocketed.
Organizers expect a sell-out crowd near 21,000 for the outdoor event, which also features a performance from rapper Eminem.
The people making a living in boxing have welcomed a piece of the large money pie that shook up soccer and brought chaos to professional golf with the birth of LIV.
It comes six years following the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The CIA concluded the country’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, ordered the murder, creating a diplomatic row for the oil-rich nation that has since dissipated in some measure to its massive investment in sports.
Flirting with dangers Dr. Ian Malcolm warned of during the classic first film in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, boxing’s networks, distributors, fighters and promoters have chosen to coalesce around Saudi Arabia’s plan to centralize the sport.
Malcolm, a mathematician played by Jeff Goldblum who specializes in “Chaos Theory,” could have crafted a dissertation on boxing, where chaos and unpredictable outcomes have long been the name of the game.
But not anymore if Turki Alalshikh executes his plan.
Rather than de-extincting dinosaurs, Alalshikh, the point person for Saudi Arabia’s expanding interests in combat sports and the chairman of the Kindgom’s General Entertainment Authority, said he intends to bring boxing back to life.
Of course, rumors of boxing’s demise, which seem to carbon date to the Jurassic Period, have been overstated because of the perennial draw of fighters. Without the congealing Alalshikh has proposed, generation after generation of combatants have managed to inspire interested audiences.
Saturday’s card brings together a mix of fighters signed with various promoters, namely Matchroom, PBC, Top Rank and Golden Boy, among others. Technically, the Saudis aren’t promoters at all. They have not been licensed by the California State Athletic Commission, though they were billed that way in April when the Aug. 3 date was originally announced.
The chief promoter working with the California State Athletic Commission is actually Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who remains effusive in his praise for Alalshikh’s influence on the pugilism business.
The bountiful undercard on Saturday’s $79.99 pay-per-view features Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KO) defending his WBA super lightweight world title against fellow Mexican Jose Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KO).
Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz (35-2, 22 KO), who lost his title in Saudi Arabia in December 2019 to the man he took it from, England’s Anthony Joshua, faces New York’s Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1 22 KO).
A younger “Big Baby,” American heavyweight contender Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KO) meets power-punching Congolese Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KO).
David Morrell (10-0, 9 KO) faces Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KO) for the vacant WBA light heavyweight world title.
And Cuban Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (3-0 1 KO) fights a 10-rounder against veteran Mexican Antonio Moran (30-6-1 21 KO).
CRAWFORD vs. MADRIMOV
When: 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
TV: DAZN, ESPN+, PPV.com