‘This Is the Best Card in the Last 25 Years’: Looking at the Stacked August 3 Card Backed by Turki Alalshikh

On August 3, Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) will take on Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) for the WBA junior middleweight title in the main event of a stacked card at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, in the first boxing event in the United States backed by Turki Alalshikh. At a press conference on April 24 at Gotham Hall in New York, the card was formally announced. DAZN streamed the press conference and has streamed the previous Saudi cards via pay-per-view. Dan Rafael addressed the card on the latest Big Fight Weekend preview podcast: “This is the best card in the last 25 years,” said Rafael.

Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov Headlines Stacked Card

Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov

In a statement regarding the event, Alalshikh said: “We are delighted for Riyadh Season to host its first overseas event in Los Angeles and this fight in the United States is a special one to mark this moment.” He continued: “We want to give people around the world the opportunity to enjoy their own Riyadh Season experience and this is exactly what we hope to achieve by staging this and also future events around the world.”

Terence Crawford has not fought since the brutal beatdown he inflicted on Errol Spence Jr. to become the first four-belt undisputed welterweight champion and the first two-division four-belt undisputed champion. 

Read More: Terence Crawford’s Surgical Precision: A Throwback to His WBO Light Welterweight Triumph vs. Dulorme

At the press conference, the Omaha native spoke about legacy: “I consider Israil the best 154-pounder in the division right now, so why not go for the top guy in the division right off the bat.” He continued: “I want to leave a legacy that’s never been left before, inside and outside the ring.” Speaking about his opponent: “I’ve seen it all,” Crawford said. “He’s very talented and strong, but I’ve fought guys who are talented and strong. He has good footwork, but I’ve fought guys with good footwork. He’s elusive. But I’ve fought guys who are elusive. It’s just about me dictating the pace and doing what I want to do in the ring and taking away what he wants to do.”

 Madrimov stopped Magomed Kurbanov, to win the vacant WBA belt on the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou undercard, and will take a massive step up in class to take on Crawford. “I am fighting the pound-for-pound No. 1 Terence Crawford, my favorite boxer,” Madrimov said. “I like his style. Big respect. But Aug. 3, I will be ready. There is no hesitation (accepting the fight). As soon as I heard the news that I would face him, I was very happy. I am not Errol Spence. I am Israil Madrimov, and this is my division.”

Cruz vs. Valenzuela

All action Newly-crowned WBA junior welterweight titleholder Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) will make the first defence of his belt since knocking out Rolando Romero on March 30 to take his 140-pound world title. The Mexican fighter will face Renton resident Jose Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs): “I’ve been preparing a lot to face him and to give a great show to the people of Los Angeles,” said Cruz, who is promoted by MP Promotions. “I’m ready for all the best fighters, but right now I’m focused on Valenzuela.”

Read More: ‘Pitbull’ Cruz Crushes Ramirez In Two Rounds

The southpaw last time out defeated Chris Colbert by sixth-round KO, avenging his controversial unanimous decision loss from their first fight. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was 10 to be a world champion,” Valenzuela said. “I’m big for the 135 division and I think this is the move I needed. I’m feeling good.”

Tszyu vs. Ortiz

Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) who recently lost his WBO junior middleweight title in a bloody battle with Sebastian Fundora, will take on another all-action fighter in Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim 154-pound belt. According to a report from Dan Rafael’s Fight Freaks Unite substack the fight between the two heavy-handed boxers came together quickly and was finalised on the day of the press conference. The fight is contingent on Ortiz coming through his bout on April 27 against Thomas Dulorme. Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya, Ortiz’s promoter, said: “If Vergil emerges victorious this Saturday, he is going to be ready to roll and steal the show against Tim Tszyu.”

Hear Dan Rafael and TJ Rives speak on the August 3 card and more on the “Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast” by clicking play below.

Ruiz vs. Miller

One intriguing fight will see the return of former unified heavyweight titlist Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs), who will end two years of inactivity as he takes on Jarrell Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs), whose felony carjacking and burglary with assault or battery charges stemming from a January incident were dropped on Tuesday. “Lots of ups and downs in life, but I’m glad that God gave me another opportunity. I’m ready to rock and roll. Aug. 3 will be the return of Andy Ruiz — a consistent Andy Ruiz.”

Read More: Five Underrated Heavyweight Boxers to Look Out for in 2024

“This is a great fight,” Miller said. “I can’t wait to do what I do best and that’s kick-ass. And after that (Ruiz) and I will go out for a pint. I’m going to kill myself in camp. There’s no shit-talking this time. It’s not that type of opponent. There’s nothing but love. But the minute one of us gets punched, the friendship goes out the door.”

Morrell vs. Kalajdzic

David Morrell 10-0, 9 KOs) vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs) for the vacant WBA “regular” light heavyweight title was seemingly destined for a June PBC on Prime card but will now be on the stacked August 3 card. 

Morrell spoke on the upcoming fight and his move to light heavyweight: “I’m going up to 175 because nobody wanted to fight me at 168,” Morrell said. “It looks like all of the fighters will be at 175 with (David) Benavidez also moving up in weight.” His opponent is on a good run of form, winning five fights in a row since losing to Artur Beterbiev in the fifth round of an IBF title fight in 2019.

Cruz vs. Moran

Decorated amateur Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) is fast rising the ranks, and will now face the experienced Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs) in a 10-rounder as Eddie Hearn and Matchroom continue to move the Cuban aggressively.

“I don’t know my opponent very well, but I don’t underestimate anyone,” Cruz said. “I came to fight the very best and I’ll fight anyone.”

Read More: Fighter Eddie Hearn Calls ‘Future P4P Great’ Reveals World Title Aspirations

Hearn said he thinks Cruz will be ready to fight for a world title by the end of the year. “They’re willing to face anybody,” Hearn said of Cruz and his team. “We have a real test in Moran, and Andy Cruz will be ready to fight for a championship this year.”