Crawford-Madrimov tops a star-studded bill that includes Top Rank-promoted heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson, who steps up against fellow knockout artist Martin Bakole.
Crawford-Madrimov, Anderson-Bakole, and additional undercard fights will stream LIVE on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=165c072921&e=ae69d13328) .
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) moves up to 154 pounds following last July’s career-defining TKO over Errol Spence Jr. to win the undisputed welterweight championship. The Omaha, Nebraska, native and pound-for-pound superstar has won 11 straight fights by stoppage. Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs), a native of Uzbekistan, captured the WBA 154-pound crown in March with a fifth-round TKO over Magomed Kurbanov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, is the sport’s preeminent heavyweight up-and-comer. He bested former world champion Charles Martin by decision last July, stopped Andriy Rudenko in five rounds the following month, and returned in April with a one-sided unanimous decision over Ryad Merhy. Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) has won nine straight fights and made a splash on the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou bill last October, weighing in at a massive 299.5 pounds and dispatching former title challenger Carlos Takam in four rounds.
The Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV will also feature:
* WBA 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) making his first world title defense against Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs).
* Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) returning from an almost two-year layoff to fight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs).
* Cuban standout David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs), winner of seven straight by stoppage, going for number eight in a 12-rounder at light heavyweight against former world title challenger Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs).
* Cuban Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) seeks to continue his rapid ascension up the lightweight rankings against battle-tested Mexican puncher Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs) in a 10-rounder.