Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh, a major boxing event is set to take place in the United States. Promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, the card will be headlined by Terence Crawford’s challenge for Israil Madrimov’s IBF super welterweight title.
The event, scheduled for August 3 at the Los Angeles Forum in Inglewood, California, promises to be a blockbuster. Following his impressive victory over Rolly Ramirez, Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz will defend his WBA junior welterweight title against Jose Valenzuela.
In a heavyweight showdown with potentially severe consequences for the loser, Andy Ruiz will face off against Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller. Ruiz, who hasn’t fought in two years, and Miller, who lost his last bout via 10th-round TKO, will both be eager to reassert their positions in the heavyweight title conversation.
The card may also feature a highly anticipated clash between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Tim Tszyu, but this is contingent on Ortiz’s victory against Thomas Dulorme on Saturday. The winner of that fight is likely to be in line for a world title shot in their next outing.
Crawford, a potential opponent for the winner of Ortiz-Tszyu, has expressed interest in moving up to 168 pounds to face Canelo Alvarez. However, Alvarez is set to defend his title against Jaime Munguia on May 4.
Alalshikh has named Crawford-Alvarez as one of three dream fights he hopes to facilitate, along with Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury and David Benavidez vs. the winner of Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol. While these fights may not materialize immediately, the card scheduled for August 3 is poised to be a major event in the boxing world.
