Eddie Hearn Angry Over Crawford’s Controversial Win, Calling It A “Waste Of Time”

Promoter Eddie Hearn has hit back at boxer Israel Madrimov’s loss of the WBA Junior middleweight title to Terence Crawford in a controversial twelve-round decision on Saturday night in a fight that could easily have gone to BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Hearn raved about the bloody kill after the fight, pointing out that Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) landed the most effective punches. Of course. I watched the fight and had Madrimov win 117-111 by nine rounds to three. The judges saw differently and spoiled the evening.

Madrimov’s punches were similar to vintage Gennadiy Golovkin in terms of power, and Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) didn’t show anywhere near the same kind of pop in his shots.

The scores were 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.

Crawford’s Star Power: A Decisive Factor?

Chris Mannix: “When you heard those scorecards read, what did you think of the decision?”

Eddie Hearn: “Because it’s a waste of time. It’s not a 116-112 fight. He [Madrimov] who was in the fight. He will come to the fight as a champion, but only because he is fighting Terence Crawford. All successful punches came from Israel Madrimov.

“Crawford played well in the last round. It was a very close fight. I believe that if you step into that ring as a champion, you should take the belt off the champion. Terence Crawford didn’t do that, and I love him. You are smart.”

The problem is that Crawford is a star, and he has a chance for a big money fight against Canelo Alvarez at 168 in 2025. With the money to produce, do you think Madrimov had a chance to win the decision?

“For me, him [Madrimov] you deserve to be champion tonight. It was a fight that could go either way. You hear the scorecards, and it’s a ‘Why bother’ kind of thing. He lost in four rounds on two scorecards. It wasn’t that much of a fight.

“I was sitting in the corner. See [Team Crawford] they are silent throughout this war. They knew them. Round 12, ‘We need it.’ They knew this fight was on a knife’s edge, and you get no respect from the judges because it’s Terence Crawford. He is an amazing warrior. It was a very close fight,” said Hearn.

I agree with Hearn. Crawford’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, was sweating in the corner during the later rounds, sounding as if he knew how bleak his situation was.

“As a champion, he deserves respect on those cards. It was a fight that could have gone either way, and it felt like a waste of time in the 116-112 loss. It’s like they were filled before.

“Everyone knows. His Excellency would come to me, ‘Well, he ruined our plans,’ and it was such a fight. Then you hear the cards, then it’s a waste of time,” said Hearn.