Former three-division world champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) defeated WBA World Super Welterweight champion Israil ‘The Dream’ Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) over 12 rounds for his fourth division world title, including the WBO Interim Super Welter title on Saturday night in the main event at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
In the first six rounds, Madrimov followed Crawford out, landing him 36-35, per the announcers, but it was hard to believe.
In the eighth round’s final minute, Madrimov landed a lead right and, for some reason, grabbed Crawford into a clinch.
In the ninth and tenth rounds, Madrimov had a slight edge. In the eleventh round, Madrimov did a lot of holding, and Crawford did not much. In the twelfth and final round, it was all Crawford. Madrimov was marked under the left eye at the end. Referee Jack Reiss had little to do. This was not an exciting fight for the fans.
Scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
In the co-main event, WBA World Super Light champ Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) was beaten by a twelve-round split decision by Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs). The scores were 118-112 Valenzuela, 115-113 Cruz and 115-112 Valenzuela.
In the first two rounds, Cruz attacked the taller southpaw Valenzuela, who countered, but Cruz had the edge. In the third through fifth rounds, Valenzuela came back well to take the rounds.
In the sixth round, it was close, but Valenzuela seemed to take one step ahead of Cruz, rocking him with a right uppercut to the chin. In the seventh round of a close fight, Cruz finished stronger. In the eighth round, Cruz came back well until he hit Valenzuela low, causing a warning from Referee Edward Collantes. Valenzuela came back to control the action.
Valenzuela had the edge in the ninth and tenth rounds, countering Cruz, who kept coming but not landing as much. In the eleventh round, Valenzuela landed more until the final seconds, when Cruz may have pulled it out. Valenzuela looked like a new champ, out-landing Cruz in the twelfth and final round. Robert Garcia trains him.
Former WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO Heavyweight champ Andy ‘The Destroyer’ Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) was fortunate to get a 12-round majority draw with Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs).
In the first round, Miller, the lowest weight in 6 years, and Ruiz, returning after almost two years, did little until the final seconds when Ruiz finished strong. In the second round, Miller rocked Ruiz in the final minute with a pair of rights to the chin. Miller went to the body in the third round, and a hard right uppercut had an edge.
In the fourth through sixth rounds, in the final seconds, Miller’s flurry to the body and right uppercut to the chin may have pulled out the rounds, ending the sixth. In the seventh round, Miller continued outworking Ruiz.
In the eighth round, Ruiz came back well, taking a close round. In the ninth round, Ruiz did well initially, but Miller took over the second half. In the tenth round, Miller seemed to have pulled it out.
In the eleventh round, with swelling under both eyes, Ruiz came back well enough to have an edge.
In the twelfth and final round, Ruiz controlled until the final thirty seconds, when Miller finished well again.
The scores were 116-112 Miller, 114-114, and 114-114. This writer scored Miller 115-113. Bozy Ennis had joined the corner of Miller.
WBO International heavyweight champion Jared Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs) was stopped by Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) at 2:07 of the fifth round for the vacant NABF title. Bakole dropped Anderson, 24, three times in the fight. Once in the first and twice more in the fifth rounds.
In the first round, all of Anderson had turned southpaw after a minute until the final seconds when a right uppercut followed by another right from Bakole on the chin knocked him down for an 8-count from referee Jerry Cantu. In the second round, Anderson came back, making a fight of it.
In the third round, Anderson turned southpaw in a back-and-forth fight. In the fourth round, Anderson outboxed Bakole but couldn’t match him for power. In the fifth round, Bakole again landed a left uppercut and dropped Anderson a minute into the round.
Shortly afterward, Bakole almost put Anderson through the ropes with a pair of rights on the chin for an eight-count. He went after Anderson, landing a flurry until referee Cantu wisely called a halt.
Former WBA World super middleweight champ David Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) defeated Radivoje ‘Hot Rod’ Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KO’) by a twelve-round unanimous decision in a fight that was closer than the scores turned in by the three judges. The vacant WBA World Light Heavyweight title was at stake. The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111.
In the third round’s final minute, Morrell hurt Kalajdzic. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Kalajdzic came back well and took close rounds. Morell did well in the next two rounds.
At the halfway point of the eighth round, Kalajdzic landed a solid right uppercut on Morrell’s chin, taking the round. In the ninth round’s final minute, Kalajdzic landed a dozen unanswered punches. Then, in the final seconds, Morrell rocked him with a combination.
In the tenth round’s final minute, Kalajdzic outlanded Morrell. In the eleventh round’s final minute, Kalajdzic rocked Morell with a right after Morell scored well. Both had moments in the twelfth and final round, with Kalajdzic taking the first half and Morrell the final half.
2020 Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalist, IBF International Light champ, and WBA Continental champ Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KO) stopped former WBO Latino champ Antonio ‘Tono’ Moran (30-7-1, 21) KOs at 2:59 of the seventh of a 10.
Moran was the aggressor in the first round, landing Cruz mainly with a jab in a close round. Cruz has a new trainer: Philly’s Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, one of the best in boxing. Cruz rocked Moran with a right on the chin in the final minute, taking the round.
In the fourth round, in the last half-minute, Moran rocked Cruz with a left to the jaw. Cruz went to the body in the fifth and sixth rounds, winning the rounds.
In the seventh round, Cruz drew blood from Moran’s nose halfway through the round. In the final minute, a pair of rights from Cruz drove Moran into the ropes, which should have stopped it by referee Gerard White, who lost control as Moran stumbled across the ring.
WBA Continental Americas Super Middle champ Steven Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) knocked out Marcos ‘Zurdo’ Vazquez (20-1-1, 10 KOs) at 0:50 of the fifth of a 10.
In the third round, Nelson dropped Vazquez. In the fifth round, Nelson knocked Vazquez out.
Welterweight Ziyad ‘Zuro’ Almaayouf (5-0-1, 1 KO) fought to a six-round draw against Michal Bulik (6-7, 2 KO).
The Scores were 57-57, 57-57, and 59-55 Almaayouf.
Ring Announcer Thomas Treiber and Michael Buffer are doing the main event.
