Terence Crawford stunned Canelo Alvarez with a masterful display to claim undisputed world champion status across three weight classes. Crawford was leaping up two weight divisions to challenge the super-middleweight king but remained in complete command throughout as he pressed the attack against Alvarez. In the end, all three judges awarded him victory in Las Vegas with the scorecards reading 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
Crawford had previously dominated at light-welterweight and welterweight before moving up to 168lb specifically to face Alvarez, who had remained undefeated in the division. Yet it was Crawford who appeared far more comfortable as he pushed the Mexican to the brink of exasperation before being declared the first boxer to hold all four belts across three weight classes.
When questioned whether he would retire following the biggest bout of his career, Crawford responded: “I don’t know, I’ll have to sit down with my team and discuss it.”
Alvarez also refused to make an instant decision regarding his future but praised his opponent.
“I feel great, I feel strong. I give credit to Crawford. He’s a great fighter,” he stated. “I’m a winner for being here. There’s no defeat here. I take risks.”
Alvarez edged the opening round which served more as an exploratory phase for both fighters. Alvarez was successfully cutting off the ring but Crawford began to find his rhythm from the second round onwards as he sought the left-hand counter.
Crawford seemed more at ease in the third round before the fourth round burst into life. An uppercut from the challenger initiated a combination that momentarily left Alvarez without a response.
However, the Mexican champion pursued his challenger for the rest of the round, and a right hand on the bell served as a timely reminder of his power.
Alvarez narrowly won a quieter fifth round, but Crawford, who sported a constant smile, responded in the sixth with a straight left that reddened his opponent’s eye.
The challenger was content to stand and trade blows, dispelling any concerns about his ability to handle Alvarez’s power after moving up two divisions.
Crawford continued to pull ahead before Alvarez snatched the eighth round. But Crawford accelerated in the ninth, putting Canelo under pressure until an accidental headbutt from the Mexican briefly paused the fight and saw Crawford take a backseat for the rest of the round.
Alvarez’s right hand was back in action in the 10th round, setting the stage for the final six minutes. However, it was the same shot from Crawford in the penultimate round that visibly frustrated Alvarez as he faced the prospect of defeat.
And he couldn’t find the knockout he needed in the final three minutes, with Crawford ending the fight on top. Both men celebrated an early victory before the judges declared the challenger the winner, perhaps by slightly harsh margins.
