Crawford makes history in win over Canelo

In a night of dramatic history-making moments, Terence "Bud" Crawford became the first male boxer to win three unified world championships across three different weight divisions. The 37-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska, achieved this remarkable feat by defeating the legendary Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision, capturing the WBA, WBC, and IBF super middleweight titles in the process. The highly anticipated fight took place on Saturday night before a record-breaking crowd of 70,482 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) added another defining chapter to his already illustrious career with the win, which came at the expense of the heavily favored Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs). Two of the three judges scored the bout 115-113 in Crawford's favor, while the third judge had it 116-112. The Associated Press gave Crawford a commanding 118-110 scorecard, reflecting the champion’s overall dominance throughout the contest.

Through the first eight rounds, the contest lacked the kind of action that casual boxing fans often crave. There were few significant exchanges, and both fighters seemed to be feeling each other out. However, it was clear from the outset that Crawford's movement and timing were superior. His hand speed and athleticism were on full display, as he consistently outboxed the 35-year-old Alvarez.

As the fight moved into the later rounds, especially the ninth, Crawford began to pick up the pace. The action got much more intense, with Crawford launching a series of sharp combinations that visibly troubled Alvarez. At one point, the fight was briefly halted after Alvarez headbutted Crawford early in the ninth, forcing a brief timeout. But Crawford, undeterred, continued to take control and assert his dominance in the ring.

From that point onward, Crawford had the upper hand. His superior boxing skills, conditioning, and ring IQ were evident as he turned the tide decisively in his favor. By the time the final bell sounded, it was clear to everyone watching that Crawford had outclassed Alvarez over the course of the bout. For Canelo Alvarez, this marked the first defeat since his loss to Dmitrii Bivol in May 2022. Despite his pedigree and experience, Alvarez struggled to keep up with the relentless pace and slick movement of Crawford.

Now, with his third world title in hand, Crawford’s path remains uncertain. Having achieved virtually everything in his career, the question of whether he will defend his newly won super middleweight titles or seek a challenge in yet another weight class remains to be seen. Whatever his next step is, one thing is certain: Terence Crawford is no longer just a champion; he is an immortal part of boxing history.