LAS ANGELES (July 31, 2024) – Pound-for-pound great, three-division world champion, and two-division undisputed champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and WBA Junior Middleweight World Champion Israil Madrimov hosted an open media workout today at the iconic Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, Calif., in advance of their blockbuster pay-per-view event on Saturday, August 3 at BMO Stadium. The event, which will feature a guest performance by global superstar EMINEM, will be available live worldwide on DAZN PPV and ESPN+ PPV, and is brought to fans by Visit Saudi, MDL Beast, and Red Sea Global.
The event is promoted by Riyadh Season, Sela, League 1, and Matchroom Boxing in association with World of Boxing, TGB Promotions, Goldstar, Queensberry, Salita Promotions, and Warriors Boxing Promotions.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) of Omaha, Neb., has won 11 straight fights by stoppage and is now moving up in weight to challenge Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) of Uzbekistan, who won the WBA 154-pound belt in March with a fifth-round TKO over Magomed Kurbanov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The stacked undercard features fan favorite, WBA 140-pound Champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs), as he makes his first world title defense against Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs). Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) returns from an almost two-year layoff to fight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs). American heavyweight sensation Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) faces fellow knockout artist Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs). Cuban standout David Morrell Jr. (10-0, 9 KOs), who has won his last seven straight fights by stoppage, is stepping up in weight to meet former world title challenger Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs) for the WBA “Regular” Light Heavyweight Title. Cuban Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) seeks to continue his rapid ascension up the lightweight rankings against battle-tested Mexican power puncher Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs) in a 10-round clash.
This is what the fighters had to say:
TERENCE CRAWFORD
“I feel great, come Saturday I got a treat for y’all. I’m expecting him to do anything he can to throw me off, but I said it before and I’ll say it again, this is the Terence Crawford era and I’m taking that belt.
“I’m just so competitive that when I think I’ve reached my ceiling, there’s always that extra push to do something that I haven’t done before.”
ISRAIL MADRIMOV
“I feel great, I’ve waited for this moment for a long time. My dream is coming true. Saturday night I’ll show every boxing fan a great fight.
“I’m only thinking about the victory, and I will show everything that I have inside the ring.”
JARED ANDERSON
“I’m ready to showcase all my talent and ready to show my whole arsenal. I’ve learned to stay on my plan, stick to the basics and win at anything necessary.”
MARTIN BAKOLE
“I feel great and I’m ready to go on Saturday night. I think I’m the better fighter and this fight is going to end in a knockout.”
ANDY “THE DESTROYER” RUIZ
“I feel good man, I feel amazing. I’m blessed to be here and August 3rd is going to be an amazing time. I’m more hungry than ever, I want to be a two time heavyweight champion of the world, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do Saturday.”
JARRELL “BIG BABY” MILLER
“I feel great losing 47 pounds and I put in all the work and I’m in shape. I feel because I have been out of the ring for so long that losing the weight helped me bring me back to the right technique.”
“ISAAC “PITBULL” CRUZ
“My team is up for it, we’re all motivated, and I’m convinced that the fans will come Saturday to watch a great fight. I think that I’m prepared for any fight that [Valenzuela] brings to me, we’ve got plans for any eventualities. I’m hoping for a great fight and to bring the title back home.
“I’d like to thank my fans with all my heart for their support, we’re all Mexicans together and we’re going to raise that Mexican flag high on Saturday.
JOSE “ EL RAYO” VALENZUELA
“This fight is a dream come true, to fight for a world title, this is it, the biggest stage.
“Winning the title would mean the world to me after all of the sacrifices my parents made to get me here.”
ANDY “ EL DIAMANTE” CRUZ
“I’m really happy to be here and feel motivated and can’t wait for Saturday night. I’m facing an experienced guy in the professional field of the game, but at the end of the day it’s a boxing match and I’m sure he will get the best out of me. I’m hoping this is a window that can push me even further into my career.”
ANTONIO MORAN
“I know Los Angeles has a pretty high Mexican population, so I feel they got my back and I feel they have my support and that will be in my favor. I think the experience can work in my favor and I have a bit more strength as well.”
DAVID MORRELL
“I feel great and it’s amazing to be here. It’s been a long time since I fought at 175 so I feel good and I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever fight it’s going to be and I’ve been training hard.”
RADIVOJE KALAJDZIC
“I want the best, that’s why I signed up for this fight. I want to fight the best fighters and he is one of the best. I just have to stick to the game plan in order to beat him.”
ZIYAD ALMAAYOUF
“I just saw the youngest person I could find to bring him to the ring so he could have his time and his opportunity like I would have wished somebody did with me when I was that young. I wanted to bring someone from Los Angeles here and bring someone from the younger generation here.
“If you go back 10 years ago and you would have told me that one day I would make my U.S. debut on a Terence Crawford card I wouldn’t have entertained it and there’s no way it would ever happen.”
For additional fight information, please click HERE.
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ABOUT CRAWFORD VS. MADRIMOV
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), presents a blockbuster world title clash as pound-for-pound superstar Terence “Bud” Crawford challenges Israil Madrimov for the WBA and WBO interim World Super Welterweight Title on Saturday, August 3. Sponsored by Visit Saudi, MDL Beast, and Red Sea Global, the event will take place at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif. The event, which will feature a guest performance by global superstar EMINEM, will be promoted by Riyadh Season, Sela, League 1, and Matchroom Boxing in association with World of Boxing, TGB Promotions, Golden Boy, Goldstar, Queensberry, Salita Promotions, and Warriors Boxing Promotions.
