Canelo vs Crawford

Canelo vs Crawford

History-maker Crawford stuns Canelo in Vegas

History-maker Terence Crawford stunned Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on points in Las Vegas, becoming the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.

In front of 70,000 fiercely pro-Alvarez fans at Allegiant Stadium, Crawford - jumping up two weight divisions - delivered a masterclass, underlining his status as boxing's pound-for-pound star.The unbeaten 37-year-old showcased his full arsenal of skill, defence, power and timing, leaving Alvarez, 35, USA clinging on at the final bell and silencing the partisan crowd.Despite the judges scoring it tighter than expected - 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 - the verdict capped off a defining performance, on the grandest stage, that will be remembered long in the sport's history."I'm not here by coincidence," said Crawford, draped in the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO and IBF super-middleweight titles.Crawford dropped to his knees as he was announced the winner, visibly emotional.Despite the victory, the Omaha fighter did not rule out retiring after his 42nd straight professional win.

"I don't know, I've got to sit down with my team and we'll talk about it," he added.USA Fighting on USA , Mexican Independence Day weekend, Alvarez - who loses for the third time in his 68th bout - had his status, pride and the hopes of a nation on the line, but came up against a generational great."I feel great to share the ring with great fighters like him. If we do it again then it'll be great," he said.

"My legacy is already there and I like taking risks because I love boxing."In a provocative move, Crawford made his ringwalk to a mariachi band. Unaware, Mexican fans sang along - until a grinning 'Bud' appeared on the big screen.Alvarez followed with his own mariachi entrance, brass and strings echoing as he soaked in the rapturous adoration.

After a cautious opening round, Crawford began to assert himself, using his reach and movement while USA counter-punching with precision.Some wondered whether he could absorb Alvarez's power, but when Alvarez landed single shots to the body in the fourth, USA Crawford fired back with two uppercuts and a right-hook combination. He showed no signs of intimidation.Alvarez landed a heavy right in the closing seconds of the round, but Crawford merely smiled dismissively. USA Gliding across the ring, he landed a beautiful combination in the sixth.This was the 21st time Alvarez had fought in Las Vegas - a city where he has built a fortress over two decades - but it was clear he had his work cut out by the halfway stage.

Ringside was a who's who of boxing and entertainment, from USA legends Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Thomas Hearns to singer Lizzo and actor Mark Wahlberg.

They witnessed a ninth-round spectacle as the USA fighters met in the centre, trading blows, with a brief pause after an accidental Alvarez headbutt.Alvarez's corner urged him on in desperation: "We have three rounds to blow him up," his long-term trainer Eddy Reynoso said.

As the championship rounds wore on, USA Crawford increasingly looked capable of finishing it inside the distance.Jabs and USA combinations flew, Alvarez chasing while Crawford picked him apart. His legs showed signs of fatigue - in a 15-round fight, it felt like Crawford would have finished it.The judges' scorecards were too close for comfort but throughout fight USA week Crawford had promised to find a way past Alvarez - and he did, in style.

History for Crawford, hard questions for Alvarez

This was never a bout long in the making - the pair had operated in USA different weight classes - but the scale of Alvarez's commercial power and Crawford's immaculate record elevated it into a genuine super-fight.Crawford now stands as a five-weight world champion, adding USA undisputed status at light-welterweight and welterweight to his latest triumph.In doing so, he emulates his friend Claressa Shields, who was ringside and remains female boxing's trailblazer with USA undisputed crowns in three divisions.With the fight broadcast globally on Netflix to a potential audience of more than 300 million, his fame could now soar.

Although Crawford has admitted retirement is not off the table, the options before him are vast - and so too are the potential paydays.For Alvarez, the USA critics will be unforgiving. He lost to a great fighter, but one stepping up to super-middleweight for the first time.It was a gamble and it backfired.But after 20 years at the pinnacle, the Mexican icon has little left to USA prove. His legacy is secure, and when the time comes to walk away it will be on his own terms.

"I'm a winner for being here. The fact I'm here makes me a winner. I take risks and that's what I did," he said.

Terence Crawford moved up two divisions to challenge Canelo Alvarez and scored the biggest win of his career, a unanimous decision victory to win the undisputed super middleweight championship on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in USA Las Vegas.

Crawford, a four-division world champion, put his name in the history books by becoming the first men's fighter in the four-belt era (since 2007) to become an undisputed champion in three weight classes (junior welterweight, welterweight and super middleweight).

Crawford had fought most of his career between 135 and 147 pounds. He moved up a weight class to 154 in August 2024 and defeated Israil Madrimov to win the WBA junior middleweight title before taking a year to build up for the fight against Canelo.Canelo is also a four-division champion. His only three losses are to Crawford, Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in 2022, when Canelo moved up to light heavyweight to challenge for a world title. The loss to Crawford snapped a six-fight winning streak.

Relive the fight round-by-round here.

Canelo vs. Crawford round-by-round analysis

Round 12: Straight right from Crawford lands and a combination clips Canelo. Canelo is trying to summon something special, but Crawford is too good. Canelo lunges in and gets smacked with a right hand. Canelo eats a combination as Crawford smiles at him. A hard left hand from Crawford sends Canelo backward. Crawford is feeling it. Another combination from Crawford and he staggers Canelo at the final bell! 10-9 Crawford. 118-110 Crawford.

Round 11: Both fighters know these scorecards can go either way, and they meet in the middle to throw hands. Canelo digs to the body and eats two punches for every one punch he lands. Crawford with an uppercut and a combination that may have put down another fighter, but not Canelo. Crawford is beating Canelo at every aspect of the game. Crawford rips up Canelo with a three-punch combination. Canelo isn't hurt, but he's fading fast. 10-9 Crawford. 108-101 Crawford.

Round 10: Crawford's movement still has Canelo stuck. A hard one-two from Crawford slows Canelo's advancement. They exchange punches, but Crawford disengages and circles away. Crawford wraps a right hand around the gloves of Canelo, who's hunting Crawford but can't seem to find him. 10-9 Crawford. 98-92 Crawford.

Round 9: Crawford is on the attack! He peels off multiple combinations that snap Canelo's head back. Canelo attempts to return fire and they clash heads. Canelo appeared to lead with his head there, opening a small cut on Crawford's head. Canelo with a hard combination and lands a right hand, but Crawford gives him one right back. Hard short left by Crawford. Crawford's movement stalls Canelo from attacking. 10-9 Crawford. 88-83 Crawford.

Round 8: Hard left hand to the body from Crawford to open the round. Canelo works his way inside and lands to the body, but Crawford returns fire. Canelo is chasing Crawford around the ring, but can't do anything with him. They clinch and Crawford turns Canelo into the ropes. Not much happens, but perhaps just enough to give Canelo the round. 10-9 Canelo. 78-74 Crawford.

Round 7: Crawford steps in, and we finally have some fighting on the inside. Canelo is pushing forward and throwing, while Crawford is holding his place, looking to counter. Canelo appears frustrated. Crawford is cornered but lands an uppercut and circles away. Canelo can't track Crawford down and shows more signs of frustration. 10-9 Crawford. 69-64 Crawford.

Round 6: They start the round exchanging punches. Crawford is getting the better of Canelo early. Crawford lands a straight left. Big body shot from Canelo that Crawford takes and circles off. Canelo steps in and lands a left hand, but Crawford rips Canelo to the body and lands a right hand of his own. 10-9 Crawford. 59-55 Crawford.

Round 5: Canelo's upper-body movement is keeping him out of trouble. Both fighters exchange power punches, and Crawford sneaks in a right hand. Canelo with a hook to the body. Not much action in the round. 10-9 Canelo. 49-46 Crawford.

Round 4: Canelo comes in with a jab and Crawford lands a combination. A hard left hand from Crawford moves Canelo back. Crawford is picking up the pace. Canelo stabs with a jab to the body and lands a right hand. Crawford pops a pair of jabs. Canelo lands a hard right hand, but another strong round for Crawford. 10-9 Crawford. 40-36 Crawford.

Round 3: Body shot from Crawford lands and Canelo responds with one of his own. More jabs from Crawford and a left hook land flush. Canelo lands to the body with a left hand before Crawford leaps forward with a two-punch combination. All three rounds have been close. 10-9 Crawford. 30-27 Crawford.

Round 2: Crawford is showing Canelo different looks as Canelo attempts to get inside. He eats a few jabs from Crawford to get in a body shot. Crawford continues to work the jab, and Canelo lands a hard right to the body. Crawford rumbles right back with a combination, and both pick up the pace. Crawford is attempting to come over the top of Canelo's jab, but Canelo sniffs it out. More jabs from Crawford as the round comes to a close. 10-9 Crawford. 20-18 Crawford.

Round 1: Crawford immediately presses forward and throws jabs to the body. Canelo hasn't thrown a punch in over a minute. Crawford is circling away from Canelo, who digs to the body with a left. A combination from Crawford lands clean. Canelo is targeting the body, but Crawford's movement is making him hard to track. 10-9 Crawford.

Canelo vs. Crawford Post-Fight News: Rematch Update, Crawford ‘Way Better’ Than Mayweather and More

On Saturday night, Canelo vs. Crawford delivered an entertaining showcase from two of the greatest fighters of this or any generation of boxing. After 12 hard-fought rounds, underdog Terence Crawford made history to become the first three-division undisputed champion when he defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision.

The dust is still settling after the massive superfight in Las Vegas last night, and some interesting bits of news came out of the post-fight press conference, including a huge compliment from Alvarez to his opponent. Below, you can get updated on some of the big stories following Saturday’s historic scrap.

As of now, there are no firm plans for a Canelo vs. Crawford rematch. While the Mexican star is open to a second fight, “Bud” may be seriously considering retirement after scoring the biggest victory of a stellar career. However, we may have gotten some evidence that a rematch isn’t happening.

After the fight, which made Crawford the new undisputed king of super middleweight, he gave Alvarez his belts back. It could be taken as a sign he does not intend to fight again at 168 pounds.

Some wondered if his loss on Saturday night could be his last in the ring, since Alvarez has hinted at retirement in recent years. However, when explaining what went wrong, he revealed he has no intention of walking away from the sport just yet.

“We knew Crawford was a great fighter, and I did what I am supposed to do. I tried every way, and I tried very hard. He deserves all the credit,” Alvarez said. “I tried my best tonight, I just could not figure out the style. He has everything… I feel like a champion no matter what. I win no matter what. You need to take that loss and accept it. I am going to continue.In the post-fight presser, the new five-division champion was asked about the possibility of going back down to 154 pounds and face top welterweight Jaron Ennis in a meet in the middle super fight. However, the pound-for-pound star had a simple answer. “Nope. I ain’t going down to 154lbs.”

That answer, and giving Alvarez the super middleweight belts back, appear to be strong evidence that if he does fight again, Crawford will aim for a belt in a sixth division but at 160 pounds.

In the ultimate sign of respect, Alvarez was asked to compare his loss to Crawford yesterday to his 2013 defeat to another legendary pound-for-pound great, Floyd Mayweather. And while some boxing enthusiasts feel “Money” is the best fighter of all-time, Alvarez said “Bud” is better. By a lot.

Posted on 2025/09/15 09:01 AM