- Terence Crawford delivered a masterclass at Allegiant Stadium, outclassing Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion
- The smaller man on paper, Crawford frustrated the Mexican star all night, never allowing him to dictate the pace
- With the victory, he became the first male fighter of the four-belt era to claim undisputed status in three different divisions
Terence Crawford delivered a masterful performance to dethrone Canelo Alvarez and become a three-weight undisputed world champion.
Moving up two divisions to challenge the super-middleweight king, Crawford showed no signs of discomfort as he dictated the pace and took the fight to Alvarez from the opening bell.
In the end, all three judges sided with Crawford in Las Vegas, scoring the bout 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, sealing one of the biggest wins of his glittering career.
Source: Getty Images
Crawford, already a former undisputed champion at light-welterweight and welterweight, stepped up to 168lbs with one goal, to challenge Canelo Alvarez, who had never been beaten in the division.
But it was the American who looked more comfortable under the lights, pushing Alvarez to the brink of frustration before making history as the first fighter to unify all four belts in three separate weight classes.
When asked if he would retire after the greatest victory of his career, Crawford responded per ESPN:
“I don’t know, I’ll have to sit down with my team and discuss it.”
Alvarez also declined to make an immediate decision on his future but paid tribute to his rival.
“I feel great, I feel strong. I give credit to Crawford. He’s a great fighter,” he said. “I’m a winner for being here. There’s no defeat here. I take risks.”
Source: Getty Images
How Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez opened the fight with a cautious first round, edging what was largely a feeling-out process.
The Mexican champion looked to cut off the ring, but Terence Crawford soon found his rhythm in the second, probing for counter opportunities with his sharp left hand.
By the third, Crawford looked the more composed fighter, and the fourth round burst into life when a crisp uppercut sparked a flurry that momentarily left Canelo searching for answers.
Still, Canelo finished strong, landing a heavy right on the bell to remind the challenger of his danger.
The fifth was quieter, Canelo just shading it, but Crawford’s grin widened in the sixth as a piercing straight left marked his rival’s face.
Far from being overwhelmed by the jump of two divisions, Crawford willingly exchanged, showing he could absorb and return fire with interest.
He built momentum through the middle rounds, though Canelo clawed one back in the eighth.
Crawford then raised the tempo in the ninth, pushing Canelo onto the back foot until a clash of heads stalled the action and allowed the champion a breather.
Canelo’s right hand was back in play in the 10th, but Crawford struck again in the penultimate round, his own power shot visibly frustrating the Mexican as defeat loomed.
Needing a stoppage, Alvarez surged forward in the last round but found no breakthrough. Both men briefly celebrated at the bell, but the scorecards confirmed Crawford’s triumph, a close decision, yet one that crowned him undisputed in a third division.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
