The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was the scene of a fight that will go down in boxing history. Terence “Bud” Crawford defeated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez by unanimous decision on Saturday, September 13, 2025, taking away the reign of the super middleweight division and consolidating himself as the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing today.
The judges scored the fight with scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 in favor of Crawford, a result that reflects the American’s tactical superiority for most of the fight.
Crawford beats Canelo
With this victory, Crawford became the first boxer in the four-belt era to be undisputed champion in three different divisions: super lightweight, welterweight and now super middleweight.
No other fighter had ever achieved such a feat in modern boxing.
This win puts him in the conversation of the best of all time, adding to a legacy that already included victories over the likes of Errol Spence Jr. and Julius Indongo.
The strategic approach that changed everything
Crawford shines and remains the only undefeated champion and now…Triple undisputed! 🏆🥊 #CaneloCrawford pic.twitter.com/UMd8SELNWv
– Netflix Latin America (@NetflixLAT) September 14, 2025
Canelo started off strong, showing aggression in the early rounds and looking to impose his body punch.
However, Crawford was able to adjust his strategy after the third round:
He used the constant jab to keep Canelo at a distance.
He neutralized the Mexican’s attempts to cut off the ring.
He took advantage of his speed and precision to connect clear blows to the face.
The fight turned into a chess battle, where every move counted. Canelo tried to take the fight to the knockout stage, but he was met with an impeccable defense and an opponent who did not give up any space.
Canelo, between resistance and frustration
Although the defeat was clear on the scorecards, the Mexican showed why he is still one of boxing’s greats.
He withstood the twelve rounds, tried to come back in the final episodes and kept the pressure on until the last minute.
However, the lack of effectiveness in connecting power punches ended up tipping the scales in favor of Crawford.
For many Hispanic fans in the United States, accustomed to seeing Canelo dominate his opponents, this defeat represents a blow.
However, it also opens the door to reflect on his legacy: multiple titles in different divisions, more than 60 professional fights and a career that inspired millions inside and outside of Mexico.
Reactions and significance for the Latino community
The judges’ decision was welcomed by most analysts.
Even among Canelo’s fans, there was recognition of Crawford’s technical quality.
On social networks, Mexican and Latino fans in cities such as Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago shared mixed feelings.
Sadness for the defeat of his idol, but also admiration for having witnessed a night that redefines the history of boxing.
The fact that the fight coincided with Mexico’s Grito de Independencia weekend gave it even more relevance among the migrant community, who tend to gather in bars and homes to watch Canelo’s fights as if they were national celebrations.
The bad note of the night was also that there was no National Anthem ceremony, as was customary in this type of event.
What’s next for both of them?
For Crawford, the immediate future is bright.
With his third undisputed title, he could seek further defenses at 168 pounds or even move up to light heavyweight, depending on the challenges presented to him.
In the case of Canelo Alvarez, this defeat does not erase his legacy, but it does mark the end of an era in super middleweight.
The tapatío will have to decide whether to continue in that division, move down to another category or consider a gradual retirement after more than a decade at the top.
Crawford le arrebató el reinado a Canelo en la división de los supermedianos y se consolidó como el mejor libra por libra de la actualidad
QuéOnnda.com
