Terence Crawford stuns Canelo Alvarez to become three-division undisputed champion

Terence Crawford made boxing history on Saturday night after defeating Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to claim the undisputed super middleweight world title, becoming the first man ever to win undisputed titles in three separate weight divisions.

In a closely fought bout at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Crawford delivered a masterful performance, earning a unanimous decision victory with scorecards of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113. The win extended Crawford’s perfect professional record to 42-0, including 31 knockouts.

The fight, part of Netflix’s “Canelo v Crawford Fight Night,” drew a raucous crowd of 70,482 fans, most of whom were supporting Alvarez. But by the final bell, even the pro-Alvarez crowd was on its feet applauding the American’s historic feat. Crawford raised his arms, then sank to his knees, overwhelmed by the magnitude of his achievement.

Crawford’s technical brilliance

At 37, Crawford jumped up two weight classes to face Alvarez, who entered the fight as the sport’s biggest global star and a four-division world champion. Despite never previously fighting above 147 pounds until last year, Crawford weighed in at 167.5 pounds, matching Alvarez, and showcased remarkable speed and precision throughout the contest.

The opening rounds were competitive, with Alvarez landing solid body shots to try and slow the challenger. By the fourth round, Crawford began landing quick-fire combinations, using his jab to frustrate Alvarez. His superior hand speed became increasingly evident in the middle rounds as he controlled the distance and forced the champion onto the back foot.

Judges Steve Weisfeld, Tim Cheatham, and Max DeLuca rewarded Crawford’s cleaner work and late-round surge. The American punished Alvarez in the ninth round with a flurry of combinations and never allowed the Mexican superstar to regain momentum.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Canelo,” Crawford said post-fight. “He fought like a champion today. But tonight was my night, and we made history.”

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Canelo opens door to rematch

For Alvarez, 35, the loss marked his first defeat since 2022, when he lost a light-heavyweight title bid to Dmitry Bivol. Despite the setback, the Mexican champion remained gracious in defeat and expressed interest in a potential rematch.

“A defeat does not define me,” Alvarez said. “Crawford is a great fighter. If we do it again, it will be great.”

Promoters have already hinted that a rematch could be on the table, given the magnitude of Saturday’s clash and the global attention it attracted. The bout was promoted by Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season in partnership with UFC president Dana White and streamed worldwide on Netflix, signaling a new era for major boxing events.

The star-studded affair was attended by legends like Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez, as well as Hollywood actors Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, and Charlie Sheen. Grammy-winning musician Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Marc Anthony, and YouTube megastar MrBeast were also spotted ringside.

Crawford’s victory also opens the door for new challenges, including potential bouts with France’s Christian Mbilli, who retained his WBC interim super middleweight title after a draw against Lester Martinez on the undercard.

When asked if this historic win might be his last fight, Crawford left fans guessing: “I don’t know. I’ve got to sit down with my team and talk about it.”

Regardless of what comes next, Saturday night cemented Terence Crawford’s legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats, the first and only three-division undisputed champion in the four-belt era.