Boxing Challenge: Crawford squeaks by Madrimov

     The premiere card in the United States for Riyadh Season offered a few upsets, good action, and a mildly controversial main event, all of which added up to a strong debut in Los Angeles.

In the main event, Terence Crawford was severely tested by Israil Madrimov before breaking away in the later rounds to win a close but unanimous decision and the WBA junior middleweight championship.

It was a highly technical affair that wasn't boring and showcased the skills of both men at the elite level.

I had Crawford winning three of the final four rounds and pulling out a 116-112 win, which was the same score as one judge with the remaining cards scoring for Crawford 115-113.

Most watchers thought Crawford deserved a close nod but some did have Madrimov as the winner and while some are now saying that Crawford's ambitious goal of facing Canelo Alvarez has taken a hit, I beg to differ- I think I like Crawford's chances a bit better now than before.

Some might question my thinking but bear with me.

Bud Crawford has never been truly extended other maybe in his win over Shawn Porter and he showed his ability to win a close fight against a bigger man, one that was better than some anticipated in Israil Madrimov.

Now he's been tested in a close fight and showed the ability to pull away against a larger talented and gifted opponent, which he certainly would need in a fight against Canelo Alvarez and has fought for the first time in a year, which would help Crawford's sharpness if that fight could be made in the next six months or so.

A historical parallel might be this one-  the great Salvador Sanchez's final fight in 1982 against little-known Azumah Nelson, who was a late replacement for Mario Miranda, and Sanchez all that he wanted before Sanchez stopped Nelson in the fifteenth and final round.

Sanchez would tragically die a few weeks later but it was only as time progressed and it was learned just how great Azumah Nelson was that Sanchez's victory was truly appreciated for the great triumph that it was.

If we were writing now about the pinnacle of Terence Crawford's career, his win to unify the welterweight division over Errol Spence would have to be considered the best of his career and it could remain so.

However, this win over Israil Madrimov might be the one years later that is looked at as his best win- that's how good Israil Madrimov might be and it took an all-time great in Terence Crawford to edge him.

I'll write about the undercard bouts next time.