Riyadh Season announce Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov on August 3

(Image Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing)

Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov will be the first Riyadh Season event to take place outside of Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday (24th of April), Riyadh Season announced Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov for the WBA Super-Welterweight World title on August 3 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. 

On August 3, Madrimov will make the first defence of his World title against the Pound-for-Pound #1 of the sport, Terence Crawford. The talented Uzbek fighter returns after picking up the WBA Super-Welterweight strap against Magomed Kurbanov on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou. Crawford himself is coming off a legacy defining win, stopping Errol Spence Jr and securing undisputed Welterweight titles in the process.

This is possibly the most difficult first defence of a World title boxing has ever seen but, it is the type of fight Madrimov has been dreaming of. If Madrimov can beat Crawford his legacy is solidified and he can, without a doubt, call himself the best Super-Welterweight in the World. Crawford, however, will be hungrier than ever as a win can begin a path to becoming undisputed at a third weight division.

The fight night itself is a massive statement from Riyadh Season, not only hosting their first fight night outside of Saudi Arabia but continuing the theme of mass scale co-promotion that boxing has been lacking in recent years. Matchroom Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), TGB Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions, Salita Promotions, No Limit Boxing and Queensberry Promotions are all expected to be involved.

The undercard is, as Promotor Eddie Hearn has repeatedly emphasised, the best fight card the United States has ever seen.

Isaac Cruz makes the first defence of his WBA Super-Lightweight World title against Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela on August 3. Both fighters are coming off very impressive stoppage victories, Cruz against former champion Rolando Romero and Valenzuela against Chris Colbert. Rayo is stepping up from Lightweight to challenge Cruz.

David Morrell and Radivoje Kalajdzic battle for the vacant WBA ‘regular’ Light-Heavyweight World title. The fight was approved by the WBA at the request of TGB Promotions. This will be Morrel’s first fight at Light-Heavyweight seemingly chasing a fight with David Benavidez.

Andy Ruiz returns to the ring for the first time in a year and a half against Jarrell Miller. Miller fights on his second consecutive Riyadh Season event after TKO loss to Daniel Dubois.

Subject to Vergil Ortiz Jr fight on Saturday, we could have one of the best fights in boxing feature on this card. With a win, Ortiz will clash with Austraila’s former World champion Tim Tszyu for the WBA ‘interim’ Super-Welterweight World title. A win for both men will secure a shot at the winner of August 3’s main event.

Olympic Gold Medallist Andy Cruz will step up on August 3 against 37 fight veteran Antonio Moran. With losses to Devin Haney, Arnold Barboza Jr and Jamaine Ortiz, Moran will provide the hardest test of Andy Cruz’s career so far.

Eddie Hearn has also confirmed 2 prospects from Matchroom Boxing and 1 from Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions will also feature on the fight card.