Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: Result as ‘Bud’ wins title at fourth weight
Re-live the action after Terence Crawford outpointed Israil Madrimov in a closely-fought contest
Terence Crawford became a four-weight world champion with a win over Israil Madrimov on Saturday, outpointing the Uzbek in Los Angeles.
Crawford entered the BMO Stadium as a three-weight champion, having reigned undisputed in two divisions, and he enhanced his already stunning legacy with a unanimous-decision win, claiming the WBA super-welterweight title.
Many of the rounds were closely contested, but the American’s experience told in the later frames, securing him scorecards of 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. With the victory, the 36-year-old stayed unbeaten at 41-0 (31 knockouts), while handing Madrimov his first professional loss (10-1-1, 7 KOs).
After Saturday’s main event, Madrimov said he felt he had done enough to win, while the 29-year-old’s promoter Eddie Hearn called the fight a “waste of time”, bemoaning a lack of “respect from the judges”. But while Madrimov competed impressively, especially considering his relative lack of pro experience, Crawford’s ability to increase his output and find the target in the later phases of the fight proved decisive.
Re-live fight updates and see all undercard results below.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: Martin Bakole vs Jared Anderson
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Bakole keeps his hands low.
He swipes at Anderson with a lead left hook. Anderson retorts with jabs, to the head and to the body.
Anderson is so fast. Bakole with his own body jab, before flicking out some lead hooks that don’t quite land.
Cross to the body by Anderson, then a jab in the same spot, before he shows good head movement to avoid Bakole’s response.
Anderson with a left and right upstairs. And again! Bakole is far too stationary. He’s tagged to the body again.
OH! But Bakole comes back with a right uppercut and some follow-up blasts, and he sits down Anderson – who’s dropped for the first time in his career!
Anderson is up and makes it to the end of the round, but only just! Wow... what a turnaround...
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: Martin Bakole vs Jared Anderson
Heavyweight action next, as Martin Bakole takes on Jared Anderson.
Bakole has sparred the best of the best and accused them of ducking him at pro level...
The Congolese, 32, has a record of 20-1 (15 KOs), while Anderson is 17-0 (15 KOs).
The American is a fancied prospect at 24 years old, but this could be a stern test for him.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
David Morrell def. Radivoje Kalajdzic via unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 117-111)
Poor judging. Kalajdzic certainly picked up more a few rounds there.
That said, Morrell is a fair winner, and he collects the vacant WBA light-heavyweight title.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Round 11
Into the championship rounds. Kalajdzic with teasing shots at Morrell’s guard.
Morrell with an uppercut then a cross, clean shots. Jab lands for Kalajdzic, who then ties up the Cuban.
Wonderful, spearing cross from Kalajdzic! That’s the shot of the fight, snapping back Morrell’s head.
Morrell tries to retaliate, but his accuracy is lacking.
Round 12
Kalajdzic lands a low blow, and the referee tries to call a timeout... but Morrell wants to keep going.
Hard left hook to the body by the Cuban, but Kalajdzic simultaneously tags him upstairs.
Morrell really lets his hands go late in this final round – strong finish for him.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Round nine
Nice uppercut by Kalajdzic, then again! He adds a third. Lovely counter cross now, another uppercut, and a hook.
Morrell really lets his hands go in the final 10 seconds of the round, and he has Kalajdzic a bit off-balance!
Round 10
This might just go beyond Kalajdzic testing Morrell; there’s a chance this ends up much tighter than Morrell would like...
A cross just about lands for Kalajdzic, who then leans back to avoid a hook. He parries a jab now.
A right hook gets through for Morrell this time.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Round seven
Kalajdzic catches Morrell on the end of a cross. Now a jab splits the Cuban’s guard.
Peppering counter shots from Kalajdzic now. A pawing jab. Morrell looks a bit bemused.
He does manage to land a few scraping shots at the end of the round, but that’s a good frame for Kalajdzic.
Round eight
Morrell buzzes Kalajdzic with a right hook! Finally Morrell is able to make his power count!
Kalajdzic does really well, though, to avoid Morrell’s follow-up offence and recover. He even gets off some counters in the process.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Round five
Kalajdzic has proven a tricky foe for Morrell so far. He lands another counter straight while backed into the corner by the Cuban.
Morrell has to try not to get frustrated; keep problem-solving, keep trying to find a way through.
Kalajdzic blocks a wide right hook and fires off a counter cross.
Round six
Now Kalajdzic, growing in confidence, gets on the front foot – if briefly.
He’s soon pushed back, cornered by Morrell, but the Cuban is struggling to find the target in those moments. Kalajdzic is moving his head nicely and staying elusive.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Round three
Morrell feints a level change then misses with a pair of hooks. Now he walks onto a jab.
Another sneaky counter shot by Kalajdzic, but Morrell lands his own offence in the corner – the left hand starting to connect for the Cuban here.
Kalajdzic squeezes a jab through Morrell’s guard. Good spell for the American, until Morrell lands a hard left!
Now Kalajdzic retreats and tries to compose himself... Morrell is stalking him, and he lands another hard left hook. An uppercut misses, and there’s the end of the round.
Round four
An uppercut just about splits Morrell’s guard, but the Cuban fires back with a stiff left.
Morrell hooks to the body, but twice he’s tagged while closing range.
Grazing cross by Morrell now, and this time he gets his head off the centre line in the process.
Kalajdzic bounces around, staying light on his feet.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Round one
Here we go! Morrell stands southpaw, while Kalajdzic is orthodox.
Kalajdzic presses forward early, but Morrell looks to deter him with jabs – including a few to the body.
Morrell flashes Kalajdzic a grin before catching the American with a long left cross.
Kalajdzic with some decent head movement along the ropes to evade Morrell’s latest offence.
There’s a touch of gloves on the bell.
Round two
A bit more variety from Morrell here, as he hooks to the body with his lead right hand, before firing upstairs with his left glove.
He backs up Kalajdzic and alternates between lefts and rights again, before blowing a kiss to the crowd.
Now Kalajdzic looks to build some momentum with the jab, but he’s forced backwards again. The American grazes Morrell with a long left uppercut late in the round.
Crawford vs Madrimov LIVE: David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
First up, David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic for the vacant WBA light-heavyweight title.
Morrell, the WBA super-middleweight champion, is moving up a division for this one.
The Cuban, 26, is unbeaten at 10-0 (9 KOs).
Meanwhile, US fighter Kalajdzic, 33, has a pro record of 29-2 (21 KOs).
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