Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision on Saturday night to win the unified super middleweight championship at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old from Omaha scored 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 on the judges’ cards and became the first male boxer of the four-belt era to hold undisputed titles in three weight classes.
The 70,482 fans inside the stadium watched boxing history as Crawford improved his record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts. Alvarez, 35, dropped to 63-3-2 with 39 knockouts after suffering only his second defeat in more than a decade. The event headlined Riyadh Season and streamed live worldwide.
Tactical Master Class from Crawford
From the opening bell, Crawford refused to play the smaller man. He stood in range, countered with speed and accuracy, and gradually dismantled Alvarez’s body attack. In Round 2, the Mexican champion landed his trademark left hook to the ribs, but Crawford tagged him upstairs with sharp combinations. By Round 4, “Bud” confidently traded in the pocket and controlled the tempo.
Alvarez rallied briefly in the fifth, boxing well from the outside, but Crawford reasserted control in the sixth and seventh. The American opened the ninth with both hands blazing before a clash of heads produced a cut above his eye. Even then, he stayed composed, matching Alvarez’s charges and landing the cleaner shots.
The pace dipped in Round 10, allowing Alvarez to score with some solid hooks. Yet Crawford accelerated again in the 11th, peppering his rival with jabs and combinations. In the final round, Alvarez marched forward but could not take away Crawford’s night.
Focus Keyword: Terence Crawford Defeats Canelo Alvarez
The bout was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime clash between two of boxing’s most dominant forces. Crawford jumped from 154 pounds to 168 pounds to challenge the biggest star in the sport. Many experts predicted Alvarez’s power would be decisive, but Crawford outlanded him 115-99 in total punches and 45-16 in jabs. His movement and timing left the Guadalajara native frustrated, recalling his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013.
After the fight, Crawford said, “I told you all I’m not here by coincidence. God blessed me. He made this event and this night for me.” Alvarez acknowledged defeat but called himself a winner for taking the risk.
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Undercard Highlights
The co-main event saw Irish prospect Callum Walsh extend his unbeaten run to 15-0 (11 KOs) with a unanimous ten-round decision over Fernando Vargas Jr. Scores were 99-91, 99-91 and 100-90 in a competitive junior middleweight contest.
Christian Mbilli and Lester Martinez produced a fight-of-the-year candidate on the undercard, battling to a ten-round draw for the interim WBC super middleweight title. The judges scored it 97-93 for Martinez, 96-94 for Mbilli and 95-95 even.
Saudi lightweight prospect Mohammed Alakel earned a unanimous ten-round victory over Travis Crawford, improving to 6-0 (1 KO) while the Texan heads to U.S. Army basic training later this month.
What Comes Next
With his third undisputed crown secured, Crawford now enters the conversation about the greatest fighters of all time. At nearly 38, he has achieved world titles in four divisions and undisputed status at junior welterweight, welterweight and now super middleweight.
He declined to confirm retirement, saying he will sit with his team before making a decision. For Alvarez, the defeat ends a 10-0 run at super middleweight but underlines his willingness to face elite challengers.
Saturday night’s fight delivered on its billing. Terence Crawford defeats Canelo Alvarez not just as a headline but as a defining moment in boxing history.