In a night that will be remembered for years, Terence Crawford cemented his place among the all-time greats by defeating Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas. The 36-year-old American became the first male boxer in the four-belt era to win undisputed championships in three different weight divisions.
The historic victory came at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, where Crawford outclassed Canelo over 12 rounds to secure a unanimous decision.
Crawford’s Historic Achievement
Crawford is now a three-division undisputed champion, holding titles at junior welterweight, welterweight and super middleweight.
He moved up two weight divisions from 154 pounds, where he beat Israil Madrimov in 2024 for the WBA junior middleweight title, to take on Canelo.
With this victory, he added the undisputed super middleweight crown to his record.
Since the introduction of the four-belt era in 2007, no male fighter had ever achieved this feat. Crawford has officially rewritten boxing history.
Canelo Alvarez: A Rare Defeat
Canelo Alvarez, one of boxing’s biggest stars and also a four-division champion, entered the fight with huge experience and momentum.
Before Saturday, Canelo’s only professional losses were to Floyd Mayweather (2013) and Dmitry Bivol (2022).
The defeat to Crawford ended his six-fight winning streak.
Despite moments of pressure and his trademark body shots, Canelo struggled to cope with Crawford’s speed, footwork and sharp combinations.
Round-by-Round Breakdown
Early Rounds: Crawford Sets the Tone
Round 1–3: Crawford’s jab and quick movement frustrated Canelo, who struggled to land cleanly. Crawford’s combinations made the difference in close exchanges.
Round 4: A strong left hand from Crawford pushed Canelo back, marking the beginning of his dominance.
Middle Rounds: Canelo Presses, Crawford Responds
Round 5: Canelo managed to take a round, landing strong hooks to the body.
Rounds 6–7: Crawford adjusted quickly, countering Canelo’s advances and landing sharp uppercuts. Canelo’s frustration became visible.
Round 8: Canelo chased Crawford across the ring and landed some body shots, but again struggled to cut the distance.
Final Rounds: Crawford in Full Control
Round 9: Crawford turned up the pace, rattling Canelo with multiple combinations and even suffering a small cut after a clash of heads.
Rounds 10–11: Crawford’s movement and precision overwhelmed Canelo. Despite his effort, Canelo was fading while Crawford looked sharper with every exchange.
Round 12: Crawford closed the show with powerful combinations, staggering Canelo in the final moments and sealing his historic victory.
Final Scorecards: 118-110, 108-101, 98-92 – all in favour of Crawford.
What This Means for Boxing
Crawford’s achievement has elevated him to a new level in boxing history:
First male fighter to become undisputed champion in three weight divisions in the four-belt era.
Demonstrated that technical skill, ring IQ and adaptability can defeat size and power.
The result fuels debates about whether Crawford should now be considered among the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time.
For Canelo, this fight marks a rare setback, but his legacy as a multi-division champion remains intact.
Fan and Expert Reactions
Boxing fans across the world praised Crawford’s performance, calling it a “masterclass in skill and strategy.” Analysts noted that Canelo’s power was neutralised by Crawford’s slick defence and footwork.
The fight has already sparked conversations about future opponents for Crawford and whether he will defend his super middleweight crown or move in a different direction.
Sources
ESPN Boxing
The Athletic
DAZN Fight Coverage
Post-fight press conferences
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