Hearn Challenges Crawford to a Duel. The Winner Revealed
In the early hours of August 4 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight champion (up to 66.7 kg) Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) will move up a division to contend for the WBA and interim WBO super welterweight titles (up to 69.9 kg) against Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs).
When the fighters first visited the arena, Crawford got into a verbal exchange with Eddie Hearn, head of the promotional company Matchroom Boxing, which represents Madrimov.
– You're not better than me at anything except talking, said Terence.
– Darts, Hearn retorted.
Eventually, Eddie challenged Terence to a darts match, and he agreed. Both were announced in boxing match style: Hearn as the experienced player and Crawford as the newcomer.
The stakes were double the 700 pounds sterling that, according to the promoter, "Bud" owes him for breakfast in the room after his fight with Ricky Burns (45-8-1, 17 KOs) in 2014. With his first throw, Crawford nearly hit the bullseye and went on to deliver a strong performance, confidently defeating Hearn, who still needed 70 points.
After the duel, both participants were in high spirits. The former undisputed champion commented on his triumph.
"This victory means everything to me. I've been training hard for years to compete in darts and beat a player like Eddie. It's a real dream come true," Terence said, laughing.
Eddie Hearn admitted that he was at a loss for words after such a frustrating defeat but noted that there is no shame in losing to such a strong opponent.
"Honestly, I often have a lot to say, but in elite sports, you either win or lose. And when you're competing against a P4P champion, losing to him by a narrow margin is never shameful.
I feel like I've let myself, my country, the game of darts, and the Professional Darts Corporation down by allowing this guy from Omaha, Nebraska, to come and beat me in a British game.
I'll just add that the Professional Darts Corporation will come to Omaha, Nebraska, and the Terence Crawford tournament will be held very soon," Hearn said.