BY BOXING HIT STAFF-
As Saudi boxing makes its mark in the American market this Saturday night, all eyes are on the pound-for-pounder Terrence Crawford and his opponent Israil Madrimov. While Madrimov may not be the ideal opponent for Bud, he is certainly a solid boxer, and the undercard is filled with intriguing matchups. The ticket prices have been drastically decreased, and many argue that they never should have been that expensive to begin with. However, the pay-per-view event promises a bang for the buck, given the depth of the card.
Terrence Crawford, also known as Bud, is moving up to junior welterweight, and fans are curious to see if his power will translate like it has in the three divisions he has already conquered. On the other hand, Israil Madrimov, like many prospects, had to work on getting rid of his amateur habits in his transition to a pro-style of fighting. While Madrimov has shown improvement in his recent fights, the skill gap between him and Crawford is likely to become evident after a couple of rounds. With Crawford’s versatility and paths to victory, it will be a challenging night for Madrimov. My prediction leans towards a late stoppage in favor of Terence Crawford.
Isaac Cruz, fresh off a destructive victory over Rollie Romero, faces Jose Valenzuela in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Cruz, known for his inconsistency from fight to fight, will need to bring his A-game against Valenzuela, who possesses counterpunching abilities that could pose a threat. Valenzuela’s discipline and ability to avoid trading bombs will be crucial in this bout. While my prediction favors Isaac Cruz by split decision, there is potential for an upset with Valenzuela’s resilience and knockout power.
With Vergil Ortiz vs. Tim Tzsyu removed from the card, all eyes are on Jared Anderson and Martin Bakole, in what is expected to be a 50-50 matchup. Anderson, coming off a knockout streak until his fight with Charles Martin, will face a tough challenge in Bakole. Bakole, despite a loss to Michael Hunter in 2018, has shown improvement in recent performances. This fight could go either way, but my prediction leans towards a highly competitive battle with Bakole coming out on top by majority decision.
David Morrell, fighting out of Minneapolis, faces Radivoje Kalajdzic in a bout that could showcase Morrell’s skills at a higher level. Kalajdzic, a solid boxer who has pushed contender-level opponents at light heavyweight, will provide a tough test for Morrell. While Kalajdzic has the tools to make Morrell work for the win, my prediction is in favor of David Morrell by late knockout. This fight will be a stepping stone for Morrell towards bigger opportunities in the future.
The bout between Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller brings an interesting dynamic, with both fighters looking to prove their worth in the heavyweight division. While Ruiz may have had the advantage earlier in their careers, Miller’s intensity and dedication in his training camp could tip the scales in his favor. Ruiz’s time out of the ring and lackluster performances in recent fights raise questions about his readiness for this matchup. Despite these concerns, my prediction leans towards Andy Ruiz by unanimous decision.
In addition to these headline fights, the undercard features promising prospects such as Andy Cruz, Antonio Moran, Steven Nelson, and Marcos Vasquez Rodriguez, adding further excitement to the event. As Saudi boxing makes its mark on the American market, fans can expect a night filled with thrilling matchups and potential upsets.
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