Terence Crawford retains super middleweight championship against Canelo Alvarez. Image: msn
(The Post News)– A blazing fight it was in Las Vegas, as Terence Crawford, an American professional boxer, met up with a Mexican boxer, Canelo Alvarez, in a clash for the super middleweight championship. Crawford beat Canelo on Saturday to become the first male fighter to win an undisputed title in three weight classes in the four-belt era.
Crawford Shows Speed and Agility at Super Middleweight
In a contest decided by the finest of margins, Crawford surged in the final rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory, extending his flawless record to 42 wins with 31 knockouts. At 37, he made history by moving up two weight classes, adding a fifth division to his collection after previously becoming undisputed champion at super lightweight and welterweight. The win silenced those who had criticized the quality of his past opponents and quieted the pro-Alvarez crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
Judge Steve Weisfeld scored the fight 116-112 for Crawford, while Tim Cheatham and Max DeLuca had it 115-113 in his favor. Showing humility in victory, Crawford paid tribute to his rival: “Canelo is a great champion. I’ve got nothing but respect for him. I’m a big fan, and he fought like a true champion today.” Canelo Alvarez, 35, himself a four-division world champion, now holds a record of 63-3.
The champion outclassed Alvarez with his speed and movement, showing no loss of sharpness despite moving up to the 168-pound (76.2 kg) division. Both men weighed in at 167.5 pounds, a career high for Crawford, who had never competed above 147 pounds until last year, when he came in at 153.5 for a unanimous decision win over Israil Madrimov.
For more than a decade Alvarez has been the biggest name in boxing, but he struggled to land cleanly as Crawford controlled the fight with his jab and punishing combinations, particularly in the later rounds after wearing the champion down.
Crawford Celebrates Emotional Victory
At the final bell, the champion lifted his arms before dropping to his knees, drawing respect even from the heavily pro-Alvarez crowd. Alvarez, reportedly set to earn $100 million from the bout, suffered his first loss since May 2022, when Dmitri Bivol outpointed him in a light heavyweight challenge.
Alvarez made it clear he’s open to a rematch, saying, “Crawford is a great fighter and deserves full credit. I feel good about sharing the ring with champions like him. If we run it back, it would be something special.”
The opening round saw both fighters start cautiously, with Alvarez connecting on a strong body shot before pressing forward more aggressively in the second, continuing to target the body in hopes of wearing Crawford down. By the fourth, the pace had quickened, with Crawford landing sharper combinations and proving difficult to pin down.
In the sixth round, Crawford’s superior hand speed became evident, and by the seventh, he was using his reach advantage to outwork the champion, winning the majority of exchanges. The ninth round erupted into heavy action, with Crawford punishing Alvarez through a relentless series of combinations.
Crawford was briefly rattled by an accidental clash of heads but quickly regained his composure and kept pressing forward, leaving Alvarez without answers. Addressing the crowd afterward, he said, “Thank you to all the fans, to the supporters, and even the haters. Together we made this a great event.”
The star-studded audience included boxing legends Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez, alongside Hollywood names such as Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, and Charlie Sheen. Music icons Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Marc Anthony, and YouTuber MrBeast were also in attendance.
On the undercard, France’s Christian Mbilli battled Guatemala’s Lester Martinez to a split-decision draw after 10 thrilling rounds, allowing Mbilli to retain his WBC interim super middleweight title. The Cameroon-born fighter now stands at 29-0-1 with 24 knockouts and, as interim champion, could potentially line up a challenge against Crawford if the American doesn’t retire.
When asked about his future, Crawford was non-committal, saying, “I don’t know. I’ll sit down with my team, and we’ll figure it out.”
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