Riyadh Season Los Angeles: Terence Crawford delivers patient masterclass but enough for Canelo ?
Gareth A Davies in Los Angeles
Terence Crawford has been deeply talented for a long time, and does a great line in ‘less is more’ given how gently he has launched himself into being a personality in the mainstream sports world, rather than a pure fighter. His crossover is just starting at 41-0 undefeated in an extraordinary career as a four-weight world boxing champion.
Crawford excelled in a patient masterclass against Israil Madrimov at a spectacular event – week, indeed – here in the city of angels here in California, but it left me wondering whether he may have reached his weight limits. I had always been an advocate of Crawford fighting Saul Canelo Alvarez, but on Sunday morning in LA, I was left scratching my head. Crawford may be a tad too small for the great Mexican.
“Phew…” was the first word Brian McIntyre – Bomac – uttered to us at the BMO Stadium press conference. And no wonder. It was desperately close, in spite of it being a unanimous decision. I had Crawford and the gentleman Uzbekistani 105-105 as they entered into the twelfth round in that cacophonous outdoor arena.
Crawford took the last three minutes on my card to claim 115-114 victory. Both men were deeply patient in an absorbing chess match of physical wit and skills. It was fascinating. But Canelo ? Hmmm … I’m not sure. Crawford has climbed from lightweight, and super middleweight would be a sixth weight class.
We shall see… though it is clear that boxing’s benevolent emperor His Excellency Turki Al-Sheik, clearly wishes the fantasy fight to happen. The Saudi Arabians pulled off a majestic Riyadh Season coup – creating iconic moments for the entire week. Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood, the Eminem concert, and a rousing, rousing event, replete with the biggest US stars ringside.
The heat in the outdoor arena ? Hard for the early part of the afternoon, but as the sun and the lights went down , 23,000 fight fans rejoiced.
Eddie Hearn was the perfect ringmaster. Hearn told me we are on the cusp of a Golden Age. I agree. Thank you Saudi Arabia, and the vision. Riyadh Season and Saudi Arabia scored a winner.
There were other winners: Martin Bakole, looking like old George Foreman, beat up and stopped America’s big young heavyweight star Jared Anderson. Bakole deserves big fights now, and big pay days. Joe Parker, Chinaman Zhang, Agit Kabayel, or even a world title down the line… they are all there for him.
Jarrell Miller and Andy Ruiz slugged it out in the heat to a draw. I thought Miller was unlucky. He won it on my card. He is often seen as the villain in boxing, but was a delight all week.
Another who won, on my book, was the Saudi Arabian Ziyad Almaayouf. He was awarded a majority draw early in night against Michael Bulik, of Poland. Very unlucky. He won by two rounds on my card.
We are in the midst of a dramatic paradigm shift. This was Riyadh Season’s first event outside its territory. There are little things to tinker with, and improve, but this will have had a huge impact on the USA, and the sporting and cultural landscape.
GARETH A DAVIES’ CRAWFORD – MADRIMOV CARD
10-10
Crawford 10-9
Crawford 10-9
Crawford 10-9
Madrimov 10-9
Madrimov 10-9
Crawford 10-9
Madrimov 10-9
Crawford 10-9
Madrimov 10-9
Madrimov 10-9
Crawford 10-9
CRAWFORD WINS 115-114