Crawford v Madrimov: Predictions For The Six Main Card Fights In Los Angeles
One of the most stacked boxing cards in living memory will take place on Saturday at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as Terence Crawford aims to become a four-weight world champion against WBA super-welterweight belt holder Israil Madrimov.
Before the headline bout, there is a star-studded undercard for fans to get excited about, including a world title fight, two fascinating heavyweight contests, and a pair of Cubans destined for greatness.
With the fighters now on site and most of the formalities out of the way ahead of Friday’s weigh-in, here are some predictions for how each of the six main-card bouts will go.
Andy Cruz v Antonio Moran (Lightweight)
Of the six main-card bouts, this is expected to be the most one-sided. Cruz (3-0-0 1 KO) may be in the early stages of his professional career, but the 28-year-old Cuban is regarded as one of the biggest talents in the entire sport.
An Olympic and three-time World Championships gold medallist as an amateur, Cruz has barely lost a round as a pro and is set to be fast-tracked through the ranks. Next in his way is the experienced Moran (30-6-1 21 KO), who has lost each time he’s stepped up to world level, including against Devin Haney (seventh-round KO in 2019) and more recently, Jamaine Ortiz (on points in 2019).
Cruz, who will put his IBF international title on the line, will hope to make a statement, and anything less than a comprehensive victory will be a surprise. It just depends on whether it will come inside the distance.
Prediction: Cruz to beat Moran by stoppage
David Morrell v Radivoje Kalajdzic (Light-heavyweight)
Tired of waiting for his shot at super-middleweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Morrell (10-0-0 9 KO) will make his debut at light-heavyweight, where he takes on the durable Kalajdzic (29-2-0 21 KO) for the WBA’s ‘regular’ world title at 175lbs.
Like Cruz, Morrell is a highly-rated Cuban seemingly destined to win world titles. He has held the WBA’s ‘regular’ world title at 168lbs since January 2021 when it was upgraded from interim, which he won in only his third pro fight.
Athletic, fast, powerful, and skilfull, Morrell should have too much for his Serbia-born American opponent on Saturday, despite his lack of recent rounds and unfamiliarity at the heavier weight.
Unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev stopped Kalajdzic in the fifth round in May 2019; Morrell, who knocked out his last two opponents in the first and second rounds, will want a similarly emphatic result.
Prediction: Morrell to beat Kalajdzic by knockout
Jared Anderson v Martin Bakole (Heavyweight)
This is where the card starts to get interesting. Anderson (17-0-0 15 KO) is regarded as the future of the heavyweight division; he’s already the present of American heavyweight boxing. But he faces by far the toughest test of his career against fellow contender Bakole (20-1-0 15 KO).
Anderson has made comfortable progress through the division so far, but arguably his best opponent was the short-lived world champion Charles Martin, who took him to a decision in July 2023.
Bakole will enter the ring on Saturday on a nine-fight win streak since his only loss to Michael Hunter back in October 2018, and he knocked out wily veteran Carlos Takam in his most recent fight last October.
These are two strong and powerful heavyweights, but Anderson’s better athleticism and mobility should give him the advantage. Bakole won’t go down without a fight, though.
Prediction: Anderson to beat Bakole on points
Andy Ruiz Jr v Jarrell Miller (Heavyweight)
An intriguing match-up sees former unified heavyweight world champion Ruiz (35-2-0 22 KO) aim to kickstart the next stage of his career against the heavy-handed Miller (26-1-1 22 KO).
If this fight had taken place a few years ago, Ruiz would have been the comfortable favorite; he produced a brilliant display to stop Anthony Joshua in the seventh round of their June 2019 bout to become the WBA, IBF, and WBO champion having stepped in at last minute, incidentally, to replace Miller after the New Yorker failed a drug test.
However, recent context is required for this bout. Ruiz has not fought for almost two years and only twice since losing to Joshua in the immediate rematch back in December 2019, dealing with personal and fitness problems in that time; he underwent shoulder surgery last November and went through a public break-up with his partner.
Miller, meanwhile, has had five fights in that same spell, and while he suffered his first defeat last time out, getting stopped by Daniel Dubois in the final round in December, he was more than a match for the now IBF world champion for most of the fight.
Despite his flabby exterior, Ruiz is an athletic fighter with perhaps the fastest hands in the division, but there is plenty of ring rust to shake off. This could be the first minor shock of the evening.
Prediction: Jarrell Miller to beat Andy Ruiz by late stoppage
Isaac Cruz v Jose Valenzuela (Super-lightweight)
This fight that has the potential to be the highlight of the show as ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (26-2-1 18 KO) puts his WBA super-lightweight world title on the line against Valenzuela (13-2-0 9 KO) in the co-main event.
Cruz has established himself as a fan favorite for his aggressive and front-foot style, earning him a nickname as the ‘Mexican Mike Tyson’. He earned masses of new fans for stepping in to face Gervonta Davis at short notice in December 2021 and gave the WBA lightweight champion the toughest fight of his career.
Stepping up to 140, the Mexican became a world champion in his last bout by dominating the fancied Rolando Romero on his way to an eighth-round knockout, so Saturday’s bout will be his first title defense.
Valenzuela may have lost two of his last three bouts, but the Mexican is a dangerous challenger with an aggressive and hard-hitting style similar to his opponent.
If this bout descends into a close-range firefight, then the winner will be the one who lands the biggest shot at the best time. But Cruz should have enough in his all-round arsenal to defend the title.
Prediction: Cruz to beat Valenzuela by knockout
Terence Crawford v Israil Madrimov (super-welterweight)
The main event will see pound-for-pound superstar Crawford (40-0-0 31 KO) make his return to the ring against WBA super-welterweight champion Madrimov (10-0-1 7 KO).
‘Bud’ may be the challenger but he’s certainly the A-side in this fight and is the comfortable favorite to become a four-weight world champion. Victory would then begin his journey towards becoming the first fighter in history to be undisputed in three divisions.
The Nebraskan is perhaps the finest fighter of his generation and possesses no discernible weaknesses; he has power, intelligence, movement, and an unrivaled skillset. None of his previous 40 opponents have come close to figuring out how to defeat him.
And yet, Madrimov does hold a few advantages over Crawford. He is the naturally bigger man and, at 29 years old, is the younger fighter by seven years. He’s also been more active having secured his world title with a formidable fifth-round stoppage of Magomed Kurbanov in March. He’s compact and tough and packs a big punch.
Will all that be enough to claim a shock win? Has Crawford, who first won a world title at lightweight, stepped up one division too many? Will the 13 months out of the ring impact Bud? Probably not.
Prediction: Crawford to beat Madrimov on points
