-
Andreas Hale
LAS VEGAS — Doubters questioned his capabilities, yet he triumphed – once again.
Terence Crawford demonstrated that physical stature wasn’t a deciding factor, delivering an exceptional performance to overcome Canelo Alvarez through a unanimous decision, thereby claiming the title of undisputed super middleweight champion this past Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium. The judges’ assessments read 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.
This victory marks Crawford’s (42-0, 31 KOs) place in history as the first male boxer within the four-belt era to achieve undisputed champion status across three different weight divisions. This achievement was celebrated in front of a reported attendance of 70,482 at the stadium, predominantly comprised of Alvarez supporters, along with millions who viewed the fight via live stream on Netflix.
Having previously secured world titles in four distinct weight categories, including the undisputed title at both junior welterweight and welterweight, Crawford, who will be 38 in a fortnight, took a significant leap from 154 pounds to 168 pounds, aiming to unseat the sport’s most prominent figure.
“I’ve been telling everyone that my presence here isn’t accidental; it’s a divine blessing,” Crawford expressed. “God orchestrated this event and dedicated this night specifically to me. I’ve consistently stated this, and I want to emphasize it’s not due to my own doing, but rather God’s grace.”
Despite the judges’ close scoring, Crawford’s dominance felt more pronounced as he consistently thwarted Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs), leaving the Mexican star appearing as perplexed as he did during his defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013. In that instance, he struggled to impose his strength on a perceivedly smaller adversary. Although Alvarez, aged 35, has markedly evolved since then, Crawford exhibited superior skill, maintaining a constant tactical advantage.
Crawford surpassed Alvarez in landed punches, with a total of 115 to 99, and significantly led in jabs, 45 to 16. His performance peaked during crucial moments, notably in the 11th round where a straightforward jab from Crawford compelled Alvarez to retreat and shake his head in disbelief.
Pre-fight discussions heavily revolved around the size disparity. While both fighters officially weighed in at 167.5 pounds on the preceding Friday, there was a widespread expectation that Alvarez’s inherent power and physical strength would simply overwhelm Crawford.
That anticipation never materialized.
“I consider myself a victor simply for participating,” Alvarez remarked. His record included a 10-0 standing in the super middleweight division, along with a streak of six consecutive victories. His sole defeat in the last decade occurred against Dmitry Bivol during an attempt to win a world title in the light heavyweight category.
However, he faced considerable challenges in launching substantial attacks against an opponent moving up in weight and found himself outmaneuvered by Crawford in the later stages of the contest.
“There’s absolutely no sense of defeat in my mind,” he continued. “Being present here automatically makes me a winner. I’ve achieved considerable success throughout my career. I’ve willingly accepted significant risks, and that’s precisely what I did. I embraced the risk.”
Nevertheless, Crawford assumed the greatest risk by increasing his weight to 168 pounds, a move that nearly everyone, including his opponent, believed was an insurmountable challenge.
The performance mirrored Crawford’s decisive triumph over Errol Spence Jr. in 2023, which earned him the title of undisputed welterweight champion. Although less violently demonstrative, this performance against Alvarez was executed nearly flawlessly against one of the premier fighters of this era.
Crawford, hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, skillfully employed movement from the outset to disrupt Alvarez’s rhythm, maintained an active jab, and strategically unleashed forceful combinations throughout the 36-minute encounter. Crawford displayed sharp focus from the opening bell as Alvarez attempted to pin him down. However, Crawford’s agility prevented Alvarez from advancing inside and unleashing his powerful blows. Instead, Alvarez often found himself on the receiving end of Crawford’s combination attacks. Crawford intensified his offense in the fourth round, linking together punches and effectively evading danger.
Alvarez, the celebrated fighter from Guadalajara, Mexico, achieved some success with body shots, aiming to slow down Crawford. Nevertheless, Crawford’s constant movement hindered Alvarez from grounding himself and delivering impactful combinations. By the seventh round, Crawford opted to engage Alvarez in close quarters, a tactic that seemed to catch Alvarez off guard. Frustration became evident on Alvarez’s face as Crawford landed combinations on his head and deftly slipped away.
Crawford did not rely on a perceived advantage, pressing forward in the championship rounds and consistently outstriking Alvarez. A significant portion of the audience began heading for the exits even before the official announcement of the decision.
For those who stayed and initially booed Crawford loudly, their jeers eventually transformed into appreciative cheers, acknowledging the boxing brilliance of Omaha’s star. While Crawford may have limited objectives left to pursue in his career, he remained noncommittal about retirement.
“I’m uncertain,” Crawford responded when asked about whether this might be his final fight. “I need to consult with my team, and together, we will deliberate on the matter.”
Should this mark Crawford’s last appearance in the boxing ring, a serious reevaluation of his standing among the sport’s all-time greats is warranted.
