Terence Crawford to Make Return to the Ring on August 3 against Israil Madrimov at 154lbs

Terence Crawford, the former undisputed welterweight champion and Boxing News pound-for-pound selection, is set to make his highly anticipated return to the ring on August 3. The 36-year-old will be moving up from 147lbs to 154lbs to face off against WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

The event is being organized by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Entertainment Authority, in collaboration with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn. Alalshikh has played a significant role in revitalizing the heavyweight division in recent months, with the upcoming clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Crawford, with a record of 40-0 (31 KOs), has been absent from the ring since his dominant victory over Errol Spence Jr. in 2023. His move to the super-welterweight division signals his ambition to become a two-weight world champion, with his sights set on a potential showdown with undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.

The 154lbs division is currently held by Sebastian Fundora (WBC and WBO), Bakhram Murtazaliev (IBF), and Israil Madrimov (WBA). Madrimov, with a record of 10-1 (7 KOs), claimed the WBA title with a fifth-round stoppage of Magomed Kurbanov on the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou undercard.

In addition to the Crawford vs. Madrimov bout, the August 3 card will feature former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr taking on Jarrell Miller, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz defending his WBA lightweight title, and a potential Fight of the Year contender between Tim Tszyu and Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Boxing fans can expect an action-packed night of fights as Crawford looks to make a statement in his new weight class and continue his quest for boxing supremacy.