Terence Crawford ekes out decision to take Israil Madrimov's title - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Terence Crawford scored a tightly contested unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov on Saturday at BMO Stadium to capture the WBA junior middleweight title.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, prevailed by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 to become a four-division champion. ESPN scored it 115-114 from ringside.

It was Crawford's first distance fight since July 2016, when he outpointed Viktor Postol in a 140-pound title match. Crawford, an Omaha, Nebraska, native who will turn 37 next month, entered the ring riding an 11-fight knockout streak.

«Israil was a tough competitor,» Crawford said. «I knew he was going to be tough.… He's real strong, he's durable, he took a lot of good shots and he got me to Round 12.… He had fast feet, good rhythm upstairs.… He was waiting to counter me just like I was trying to counter him.

»He was disciplined; he didn't come in throwing wild shots like I intended him to. And he fought a good fight."

The bout was a tactical one from bell to bell and featured many difficult-to-score rounds. Crawford displayed the superior jab with his accurate lead right hand. Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) landed the cleaner, more effective shots. What the bout lacked, however, was consistent exchanges.

The pair rarely punched in combination, electing to mostly throw one punch at a time. For Madrimov, it was a looping overhand right that was his best weapon. He also missed wildly with that same shot multiple times.

Crawford always times his opponent sooner than later. Not on this night. Madrimov's awkward, herky-jerky movement presented problems for Crawford the entire fight.

Madrimov, 29, was able to keep his head off the line and presented a difficult target for