On Saturday night, boxing history was made in Las Vegas as Terence “Bud” Crawford outpointed Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez by unanimous decision to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world. This monumental event took place before a record-breaking crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium, marking the largest boxing audience in Las Vegas's storied history.
At 37 years old, Crawford moved up two weight classes to hand Mexico's boxing icon, Álvarez, only the third defeat of his illustrious career. The judges scored the bout 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, all in favor of Crawford, elevating his record to an impressive 42-0, with 31 knockouts. Notably, The Guardian scored the fight even more decisively at 118-110.
Crawford’s victory is not just a personal milestone; it places him among the elite in boxing history. Already the first fighter in the four-belt era to unify titles in two weight classes, he has now added a third division to his accolades, making him a five-division world champion. This achievement puts him in the same league as legendary weight-jumpers like Harry Greb, Henry Armstrong, Roberto Durán, and Manny Pacquiao.
The opening rounds of the fight resembled a high-stakes chess match, with both fighters showcasing their tactical prowess. Crawford, known for his ability to switch stances, primarily fought as a southpaw, utilizing his jab effectively while matching Álvarez's body shots. As the rounds progressed, Crawford not only absorbed Álvarez's pressure but began to dictate the pace and rhythm of the fight.
By the middle rounds, it became evident that Álvarez was struggling to keep up. His footwork appeared sluggish, and his jab lacked conviction. Too often, he followed Crawford in straight lines, leaving himself open to counterattacks. The pivotal sixth round saw Crawford stand firm in exchanges, landing precise left hands and causing noticeable swelling under Álvarez's right eye.
As the fight progressed, Crawford's confidence soared. He out-threw and out-landed the defending champion, leaving the arena filled with chants of “Craw-ford!” that began to overshadow the initial “Ca-ne-lo!” cheers for Álvarez. Despite having his moments, particularly with body shots, Álvarez struggled to find a second gear or a different strategy to counter Crawford’s finesse.
In the ninth round, an accidental clash of heads temporarily halted the action, resulting in a cut for Crawford that required stitches. However, the Nebraskan remained undeterred, continuing to showcase his agility and lateral movement. In the championship rounds, Crawford took complete control, delivering flurries of punches and even trading blows in the pocket without hesitation.
After the fight, Crawford praised Álvarez, stating, “Canelo is a great champion. I’ve got to take my hat off to him. He’s a strong competitor. I’ve got nothing but respect for Canelo.” He remained non-committal about his future plans, indicating he would discuss his next steps with his team. “Thank you to all the supporters, thank you to all the haters. I appreciate all of y’all,” he added.
For Álvarez, the loss was sobering. The four-division champion, who had dominated the 168lb division for nearly seven years, was outperformed by a smaller opponent whose timing and tactical skill bridged the weight gap. This defeat brought his record to 63-3-2, marking his first loss since being outpointed by Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight in 2022.
The scale of the event underscored the significance of Crawford's achievement. Allegiant Stadium, the $2 billion home of the NFL’s Raiders, had never before hosted a boxing match. The crowd size more than doubled the previous Las Vegas record of 29,214, set in 1982 for the bout between Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney.
Millions more viewers tuned in via Netflix, which streamed the fight at no additional cost to subscribers, marking a significant shift in the boxing landscape from traditional pay-per-view models. This event also marked the debut of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing under TKO Holdings, backed by Saudi investment, amid ongoing political discussions in Washington regarding the new Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.
Despite the surrounding business and political noise, the fight itself showcased Crawford's exceptional skill and ability to solve problems in the ring. Time and again, he demonstrated his capacity to adjust to an opponent's rhythm, a strategy he successfully employed against notable fighters like Yuriorkis Gamboa, Shawn Porter, and Errol Spence Jr..
Ultimately, the scorecards reflected the tightness of the individual rounds but did not capture the overall dominance of Crawford. As the final bell rang, Álvarez appeared weary and resigned, throwing punches with less conviction, while Crawford remained fresh, elusive, and in command. Instead of confirming Álvarez's supremacy at 168lb, it was Crawford who solidified his legacy, performing not in a cramped casino ballroom but before the largest fight crowd Las Vegas has ever seen, reaching millions of homes worldwide.
