LAS VEGAS — Terence Crawford sealed the most sensational win of his storied career Saturday night, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion at 168 pounds.
In front of a stadium record 70,482 fans, the 37-year-old fighter nicknamed “Bud” upset the odds to make history and become a three-time undisputed champion, adding the super middleweight crown to those he won at light welterweight and welterweight.
Stepping up two weight divisions to take on a fighter who has been the face of boxing for so long seemed to many like a step too far, even for an undefeated boxer as talented as the man from Omaha, Neb. But in front of an enamored crowd who started the night cheering “Can-el-o” and finished it cheering Crawford’s name, he proved that he has the skills to succeed across weight divisions in a manner that marks him out as one of the greats.
The victory puts him firmly in the conversation of being the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. However, Naoya Inoue, who was scheduled to fight in Japan a few hours later Sunday, can also lay claim to that position. During the build-up to the fight, Crawford said that victory over Álvarez would put him on “the Mount Rushmore of boxing,” and it’s hard to dispute that when you look at what he has achieved.
Crawford went into the bout as the underdog (albeit an incredibly talented one who was yet to be beaten in 41 fights as a professional), largely based on his position as the historically lighter man. All but one of his 41 professional bouts took place at 147 pounds or below. Questions were asked about the impact the extra pounds would have on his speed. And whether he would be able to withstand the power Álvarez brings as a more natural super middleweight.
Throughout the 12 rounds, Crawford showed no sign that the weight had hurt his speed. His footwork and hand speed were a problem for Álvarez all night, leaving Álvarez visibly frustrated as the fight entered the later rounds. On more than one occasion, Álvarez reacted to Crawford’s shots by dropping his hands and shaking his head; seemingly enraged, either with himself for not being able to evade Crawford’s shots or with his opponent for being able to have such an effect on him.
The celebrity nature of this fight was clear throughout its buildup, as Álvarez showed flashes of his luxury lifestyle and hashtagged his social media posts #CANELOcrawford, signaling that he considered himself the main man. The king. The draw.
His ring entrance Saturday night affirmed that. It was Crawford who entered the ring first, played in by a band covering “Cancion del Mariachi.” He carried a guitar case in his right hand — paired with the song, it was a reference to the 1995 Antonio Banderas movie “Desperado” — and he wore a faint smirk on his face.
Álvarez followed, clad in a black and gold cloak, his face all business as he stepped into the ring, accompanied by two giant Mexican flags. It was his introduction to the crowd that left eardrums assaulted (after jeers that were only slightly less loud for Michael Buffer’s mention of thanks to Mohammed bin Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia).
As the fight got underway, the noise abated. Crawford took center of the ring, but it took half the round for any action inside it to take place. Álvarez landed the first meaningful shots, but there was little to choose between them. And it continued like that for much of the early rounds.
The defensive skills of both men seemed destined to leave shots glancing past temples or bouncing off gloves.
Crawford came out strongly in the fourth round and even allowed himself a smile after landing a solid right hook. It was in the sixth round that the fight seemed to get going; Crawford once again came out firing, taunting Álvarez by sticking out his tongue and using his clever footwork to dance around his opponent. At one point, it seemed Álvarez had him trapped in the corner, but in a blink, Crawford had twisted and turned the champion, reversing their roles.
Álvarez came out with bad intentions in the seventh and enjoyed a better round, but landing cleanly on Crawford was still proving a tough ask. It was in the ninth round that Crawford seemed to step on the gas. He came out firing and seemed to have Canelo in trouble until the pair got embroiled in a clinch on the ropes that ended with an accidental headbutt and a small cut above Crawford’s right eye.
The referee gave Crawford a moment to recover, but it seemed to kill the momentum he’d built at the start of the round, though Álvarez did not capitalize on the lull. It was in the 11th round that Álvarez’s frustrations came to the surface, resulting in him dropping his hands and wearing an expression that said, “What can I do here?”
The Allegiant Stadium crowd rose to its feet before the final round, aware that something special was brewing. The chants of “Can-el-o” were no longer audible, replaced by loud echoes of Crawford’s name. As the American enjoyed more moments of success, clearly understanding he was closing in on the greatest victory of his career, the smile returned to his face.
At the final bell, both men raised their hands, but it was Crawford whom the judges saw as their winner, one judge scoring it 116-112 and the other two 115-113. The new undisputed super middleweight champion fell to his knees and looked upward with tears in his eyes.
He’d made it onto Mount Rushmore. After a career of being avoided by the biggest names, struggling to be recognized in the way his achievements deserved, he knew this was his moment to take his place as one of the best.
