The Crown Jewel of Boxing: How Terence Crawford Conquered Canelo Álvarez to Make History – The Pinnacle of Pugilistic Achievement: Three-Weight Undisputed Glory

In an astounding display of boxing mastery that will be remembered for generations, Terence “Bud” Crawford (43-0, 31 KOs) etched his name indelibly in the annals of boxing history on September 13, 2025, at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium. Against all odds and expectations, Crawford ascended three weight classes to dethrone the seemingly invincible Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (62-3-2, 39 KOs) via unanimous decision, becoming the first male boxer to achieve undisputed championship status in three different weight divisions. This extraordinary feat transcended mere victory—it represented the culmination of a journey that began in the gritty streets of Omaha, Nebraska, and reached its glorious apex in boxing’s brightest spotlight.

The Combatants – Contrasting Paths to Greatness

1.1 Terence “Bud” Crawford: The Omnivorous Technician
Humble Beginnings: Born September 28, 1987, in Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford emerged from impoverished circumstances in a neighbourhood known for violence and limited opportunities. His early life was marked by frequent fights that got him expelled from five different schools, until he found salvation in the C.W. Boxing Club under the guidance of mentor Midge Minor.

Amateur Pedigree: Crawford compiled an impressive amateur record of 58-12, defeating future world champions Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia during his developmental years. Despite being the highest-ranked lightweight in the U.S. ahead of the 2008 Olympics, his Olympic dreams were dashed by a loss to Sadam Ali.

Professional Ascension: In 2008, Crawford turned professional, gradually building an undefeated record against increasingly formidable opposition. His breakthrough came in 2014 when he travelled to Scotland to defeat Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title, announcing his arrival on the world stage.

Historical Accomplishments: Before the Canelo bout, Crawford had already achieved undisputed status in two weight classes, light welterweight (August 2017) and welterweight (July 2023). His victory over Errol Spence Jr. in 2023 particularly showcased his exceptional skills and established him as one of the premier pound-for-pound fighters of his era.

1.2 Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez: The Mexican Powerhouse
Phenom to Superstar: Canelo’s journey began in Juanacatlán, Jalisco, Mexico, with his professional debut at just 15 years old in 2005. His distinctive red hair (earning him the nickname “Canelo,” meaning cinnamon) and exceptional skills quickly made him a fan favourite.

Weight-Climbing Dominance: Álvarez achieved world championships in four weight classes, from junior middleweight to light heavyweight. His November 2021 victory over Caleb Plant unified all four super middleweight titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO), making him the first undisputed champion at 168 pounds in the four-belt era.

Legendary Resume: With victories over future Hall of Famers like Gennadiy Golovkin (twice), Miguel Cotto, and Sergey Kovalev, Canelo has established himself as the face of boxing and one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation. His only professional defeats came against all-time greats Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.

Reign at Super Middleweight: Before facing Crawford, Canelo had successfully defended his undisputed super middleweight championship multiple times, including victories over Jermell Charlo (September 2023), Jaime Munguía (May 2024), and Edgar Berlanga (September 2024).

Table: Crawford vs. Álvarez – Pre-Fight Statistical Comparison

The Road to Battle – Negotiating the Impossible

2.1 The Concept of a Super Fight
For years, the boxing world had speculated feverishly about the possibility of a Crawford-Canelo showdown. Most experts dismissed the matchup as fanciful thinking, citing the significant size difference between the welterweight Crawford and the natural super middleweight Canelo. Conventional boxing wisdom held that size advantages of this magnitude were simply insurmountable, even for a technician of Crawford’s calibre. Despite the scepticism, Crawford consistently expressed confidence in his ability to overcome the weight disparity. Following his domination of the welterweight division, he began campaigning for what he called “legacy fights” that would cement his status as an all-time great. After moving up to light middleweight and defeating Israil Madrimov in 2024 to become a quadruple champion, Crawford set his sights squarely on Canelo and the super middleweight throne.

2.2 The Saudi Intervention
The seemingly impossible matchup became reality through the intervention of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. With the boundless resources and diplomatic influence of the Saudi Arabian government behind him, Alalshikh has fundamentally transformed the boxing landscape since his emergence in 2017. Alalshikh’s approach to boxing promotion has been characterised by unprecedented financial offers that overcome the traditional obstacles of boxing politics and promotional rivalries. As one boxing commentator noted, Saudis “have underwritten and lit a fire under the sport, I can’t remember a time when this level of investment was brought into the sport… his modus operandi is to get things done as soon as possible”. The Saudi official’s cultural significance in the combat sports world cannot be overstated. Despite dividing opinion in the Arab world for his lavish spending on entertainment spectacles, Alalshikh has earned admiration from boxing fans for delivering the matches they genuinely want to see. His understanding of boxing history and appreciation for technical mastery made him particularly enthusiastic about facilitating the Crawford-Canelo superfight.

2.3 Financial Architecture
While the exact purse details remain confidential, sources indicate that the total guaranteed money for the event exceeded $100 million, with Canelo guaranteed approximately $60 million and Crawford receiving around $35 million—the highest purses of their respective careers. Additionally, both fighters participated in revenue sharing from pay-per-view profits and international broadcasting rights, potentially adding tens of millions to their final compensation. This financial structure was made possible by Saudi Arabia’s strategic vision to establish itself as a global hub for premier sporting events. The kingdom’s investment in boxing represents just one component of its broader “Vision 2030” initiative aimed at economic diversification and cultural development.

The Battle for Immortality – Tactical Breakdown

3.1 Pre-Fight Expectations
The boxing world was sharply divided in its predictions for the historic encounter. Most analysts believed Crawford’s technical brilliance would make the fight competitive early, but questioned whether his power would carry effectively to 168 pounds or if he could withstand Canelo’s devastating body attack over twelve rounds. The prevailing theory was that natural size advantages would ultimately prevail, as they typically do in boxing. Canelo entered the fight as a substantial favourite, with oddsmakers installing him as approximately a 3-1 favourite. His proven track record at super middleweight, where he had compiled a perfect record with dominant performances against elite competition, suggested that Crawford would be simply too small to compete effectively.

3.2 The Fight: A Round-by-Round Narrative
From the opening bell, Crawford established a tactical masterpiece that will be studied by boxing enthusiasts for decades. Employing impeccable footwork, angles, and distance management, Crawford neutralised Canelo’s offensive weapons while consistently landing sharp, precise counters.

Rounds 1-3: Crawford started cautiously, using lateral movement to avoid Canelo’s power shots while establishing his jab. Canelo applied steady pressure, cutting off the ring and targeting Crawford’s body with thumping hooks. The Mexican champion appeared to edge these early rounds based on effective aggression and ring generalship.

Rounds 4-6: Crawford began finding his rhythm in the fourth round, timing Canelo’s advances with sharp counter right hands. His hand speed advantage became increasingly evident as he landed multiple punch combinations before pivoting out of danger. By the sixth round, Crawford had established a consistent pattern of hitting without being hit in return, the purest expression of the “sweet science.”

Rounds 7-9: The middle rounds revealed Crawford’s strategic genius as he adapted to Canelo’s adjustments. When Canelo increased his pressure, Crawford brilliantly employed clinching techniques to neutralise inside fighting. When Canelo tried to fight from a distance, Crawford’s superior hand speed and jab control dominated the exchanges. A sharp right hand in the eighth round snapped Canelo’s head back visibly, the first clear sign that Crawford’s power was effective at the higher weight.

Rounds 10-12: Entering the championship rounds, Crawford continued to outland and outmanoeuvre the increasingly frustrated Mexican champion. Canelo’s face showed signs of wear, with swelling around both eyes, while Crawford appeared remarkably fresh despite moving up three weight classes. The final round saw Canelo launch a desperate assault, throwing powerful haymakers in search of a knockout, but Crawford defended brilliantly before firing back with precise combinations that punctuated his historic performance.

3.3 The Decision
When the final bell sounded, most observers recognised that Crawford had delivered a boxing clinic. The official scorecards confirmed this assessment, with all three judges awarding Crawford the victory by scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 117-111. The crowd at Allegiant Stadium, heavily partisan toward Canelo, initially reacted with stunned silence before offering respectful applause for Crawford’s masterful performance.

Historical Context and Legacy Implications
4.1 Redefining Possible: The Three-Weight Undisputed Champion
Crawford’s accomplishment represents arguably the most significant achievement in modern boxing history. By becoming the first male fighter to achieve undisputed status in three weight classes, he has established a new benchmark for boxing excellence.

Table: Male Undisputed Champions in the Four-Belt Era

What makes Crawford’s accomplishment particularly remarkable is that he achieved it against established champions in each division rather than for vacant titles. His victories over Julius Indongo (light welterweight), Errol Spence Jr. (welterweight), and now Canelo Álvarez (super middleweight) represent a who’s who of boxing excellence across multiple weight classes.

4.2 Pound-for-Pound Reformation
Before the fight, Canelo had consistently been ranked among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, while Crawford held the top position in many rankings. Crawford’s decisive victory settles any debate about current pound-for-pound supremacy and launches him into conversations about all-time greatness.

The victory particularly recalls historical examples of smaller fighters moving up to defeat larger champions—such as Roberto Durán winning a middleweight title against Iran Barkley or Roy Jones Jr. capturing a heavyweight title against John Ruiz. However, no fighter in history has moved up three weight classes to defeat an undisputed champion in their prime the way Crawford accomplished against Canelo.

Gratitude and Acknowledgements

5.1 Recognising Saudi Vision
The boxing world owes a debt of gratitude to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their visionary investment in boxing. Without Saudi intervention, the Crawford-Canelo matchup would likely have remained nothing more than a fantasy matchup debated by fans on social media. Alalshikh’s unique approach to boxing promotion, prioritising fan-friendly matchups over promotional politics, has fundamentally transformed the sport’s landscape. By bringing together rival promoters and overcoming longstanding disputes, Saudi Arabia has enabled fights that previously seemed impossible. As Crawford himself acknowledged in the post-fight press conference: “This fight wouldn’t have happened without His Excellency’s vision and commitment to boxing. He’s giving fans the fights they want to see and giving fighters opportunities to create a legacy that would otherwise be impossible due to the business side of the sport”.

5.2 Celebrating Boxing’s Global Community
Beyond Saudi Arabia’s contribution, this historic event showcased boxing’s unique ability to captivate a global audience. The broadcast reached millions of viewers across every continent, transcending language and cultural barriers through the universal appeal of athletic excellence. The event also demonstrated boxing’s continuing relevance in the crowded modern sports landscape. In an era dominated by shortened attention spans and fragmented media, boxing’s ability to generate worldwide excitement for a premier event remains undiminished.

A New Standard of Excellence
Terence Crawford’s victory over Canelo Álvarez represents more than just another championship win; it establishes a new paradigm for what is possible in boxing. By defeating an established undisputed champion three weight classes above his natural division, Crawford has redefined the boundaries of boxing excellence. The fight also serves as a powerful reminder of boxing’s timeless appeal when matching the best against the best, regardless of promotional affiliations or network alliances. The Saudi-backed model of facilitating superfights based on fan demand rather than business convenience offers a promising template for boxing’s future.

As Terence Crawford stands atop the boxing world as its first three-weight undisputed champion, he has accomplished what many considered impossible. His technical mastery, combined with unparalleled boxing IQ and strategic adaptability, has cemented his legacy as not just the finest fighter of his generation, but potentially one of the greatest boxers in the sport’s entire history. In the final analysis, September 13, 2025, will be remembered as the night when boxing artistry triumphed over physical advantages, when dedication conquered doubt, and when Terence “Bud” Crawford secured his immortal place among the pantheon of boxing’s all-time greats.

By NzeIkayMedia

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