By Ron Harris (September 13, 2025)

Las Vegas, Nevada – History was made in Las Vegas on Saturday night at the Allegiant Stadium in front of the largest boxing crowd in many decades.  Terrence “Bud” Crawford went from Lightweight Champion (135 lbs.) to win the Super Middleweight championship (168 lbs.) and become the undisputed Super Middleweight champion to add to his undisputed titles at 3 smaller weight classes.  Undisputed meaning he has all 4 belts, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO. 

Crawford put on a masterful boxing exhibition against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and took home all 4 organization belts with a unanimous decision.  The judges scored the fight 116-112 and 115-113 twice.   It wasn’t that close in many observers’ eyes.  Crawford cemented himself as the mythical pound for pound greatest boxer of his generation. 

All the so-called boxing experts gave Crawford no chance to win this fight.  They said he was moving up 3 weight classes.  Canelo, from Mexico, was too strong.  He was going to get knocked out.  They said the stage was too big for him.  Crawford never doubted himself.  He fought and won 41 consecutive fights coming into this fight.  He is now 42-0 with 31 K Os.  He may be the smartest fighter of all time.  His expression never changes.  His counter punching is as good as any fighter ever.  His confidence is off the charts. 

Many fans thought Crawford, from Omaha, Nebraska, would run from Canelo in the early rounds.  Canelo may have thought the same thing.  Crawford fooled them all.  He came out jabbing and moving and taking the action to Canelo.  His movement for 12 rounds was superb.  He was never in the same place for more than a few seconds.  Canelo cuts the ring off as good as any fighter, but he was unable to slow Crawford down to land his heavy hands-on him.

Canelo landed a few good shots to the body and head of Crawford, but nothing hurt him.  Crawford was constantly peppering Canelo’s face and body with clean shots.  Crawford said before the fight, “I don’t care about knocking Canelo out.  I could if I catch him with something he doesn’t see, but I just want to win the fight.”  It turns out that Crawford walks around between fights weighing 180 lbs.  He seemed as strong as Canelo in the clinches.   Inactivity didn’t bother Crawford either.  He has fought only one fight since 2023, and he will be 38 years old later this month. 

“Canelo is a great champion.  I have to take my hat off to him.  I am a big fan of Canelo, and he fought like a champion today,” said Crawford.  Asked if this is his last fight, Crawford says, “I don’t know.  I have to sit down with my team and talk about it.”  If he retires at this moment, he will have done things in the sport never done before.  Final words from Crawford, “Thank you to all the supporters, thank you to all the haters, shout out to all who came out to support Canelo.  I am happy he is able to make it home to his children and I am able to make it home to my children and hopefully everyone will be safe tonight.”

Canelo (63-3-2 39 K Os) is a beloved champion.  Not only by all his fellow Mexicans, but to all boxing fans.  Tonight, he was too slow and threw too many one punch combinations only to have Crawford tattoo his face with two and three punch combinations. “I am a winner for being here,” said Canelo through an interpreter. “There is no defeat here, I have liked to take risks and that’s what I did tonight, I took a risk. I enjoy fighting great fighters.  Crawford is a great fighter, and I love fighting great fighters.  My legacy is already there, and I love boxing.”

Crawford fought this entire fight in the southpaw stance.  He has never said when he decides to switch from orthodox to southpaw.  In past fights, he has switched many times during a fight.  He never seems to be hurt in a fight or even in trouble in a fight. He is never off balance.  He seems to have his opponents next move in his head before his opponent does.  He will go down in boxing history as one of the all-time greats. 

Photo Credit: Juan Marshall