Lackluster Performance Could Cost Crawford
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Joshua Garcia
Los Angeles – Under the sweltering Southern California sun, fans packed the BMO Stadium in central Los Angeles for the inaugural showcase of Boxing skill the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is bringing to the United States. There is something special about an outdoor boxing setting, and often the American fan is forced to settle watching an incredible atmosphere like Wembley Stadium on television. This past Saturday night, the Boxing thirsty crowd enjoyed what was dubbed the sport’s best fight card in decades.
What was supposed to be a night to show off the talents the Saudi Royal Court has in their stable at the moment, turned into a night of upsets and flipped any sort of script on it’s head. First Jared Anderson who is the USA’s biggest hope at a Heavyweight title was severely outclassed by Michael Bakole, a current Scottish resident from the Republic of Congo.
Bakole schooled Jared Anderson in the squared circle after entering as a big underdog, and led off the night of miscalculated results. Next Andy Ruiz who was poised for his big comeback, suffered a broken hand and struggled through the fight to execute his game plan and attain the big win needed to face bigger names like Deontay Wilder or a rematch with Anthony Joshua. Andy would leave the ring with a draw against Jarrell Big Baby Miller, to the disappoint of the abundantly Mexican crowd in attendance.
Isaac Pitbull Cruz who was supposed to be the star of the show, and whose fight was supposedly the easiest to decide the winner of, threw a wrench into the Saudi show. Jose Rayo Valenzuela would here none of the doubters and oddsmakers, as he all but finished the rumors of a rematch between Gervonta Davis and Cruz. Valenzuela not only outboxed Cruz, but managed to take his titles becoming the new Champion in the division.
Following an exhilarating concert, Eminem, Marshall Mathers took his seat ringside next to Turki Alalshikh and settled in to enjoy his favorite boxer Terence Crawford put on his show. Crawford hailed as a top 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport found trouble against his Uzbek opponent in Israil Madrimov, who didn’t understand the translation that he was supposed to be overmatched.
Crawford later spoke of how suppressed he was at the patience of Madrimov. Bud Crawford would pull out the result, but not after a back and forth battle. A unanimous but a thorny unimpressive showing now has qualmed not only the rumors, but Turki Alalshikh himself has now pivoted away from financing a mega fight for Terence Crawford with Saul Canelo Alvarez.
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