Standing tall as a historic three-division undisputed boxing champion in a four-belt era, American Terence Crawford on Saturday night in Las Vegas, recorded a win for the ages by dissecting fellow pound-for-pound elite Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium.
On unanimous decision scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 116-112, Crawford, added a distinguishing fifth division title, capping a move up three divisions since his August 2023 undisputed welterweight triumph.
In this super middleweight masterpiece, 37 years old Crawford, defeated four-division champion Alvarez, with superior hand and foot movement, masterful tactics and the patented chip on his shoulder that silenced the hostile crowd of 70,482 on Mexican Independence weekend.
He sobbed as the scores were read and became champion on another level
Crawford started in a southpaw stance as the pair began tentatively. An extra combination by Alvarez likely gave him the first.
Snapping jabs and hooks from the right hand, Crawford found his mark more often than Alvarez early in the second and felt an Alvarez power shot to the head, shrugging it off.
Crawford’s speed advantage was displayed in the third as he slipped a rush by Alvarez and landed a left hand to the head, continuing to out-jab Alvarez.
Two excellent combinations by Crawford early in the fourth emphasized he was leading, inspiring Alvarez to pursue more aggressively to land two power rights.
Evasive but in control, Crawford remained in his southpaw pose in the fifth, frustrating Alvarez by landing when he approached, and laughing when touched by punches.
A combination and hard left brought another smile to Crawford’s face before he felt a stomach punch. Returning to popping scoring punches and dodging blows, Crawford closed a stirring first half of the fight.
Opening the seventh with multiple scoring combinations again, Crawford showed that the slowing Alvarez struggled through in his flat May victory over Cuba’s William Scull in Saudi Arabia is a trend.
Hitting the body and the head in the eighth left Alvarez nodding in angst over his disadvantages. He sought to apply pressure, but maintaining it meant chasing and catching fitness dynamo Crawford, and Alvarez couldn’t sustain it.
Crawford paused from eye pain due to a headbutt in the ninth, after Alvarez darted intently into a fierce exchange, seeking to land a knockout blow that never came.
Proving he was up for all of it, Crawford stayed busy and better in the 10th and 11th as the resignation struck Alvarez fully, especially when he was rocked to close the 12th round
