AFCON 2025
Terence “Bud” Crawford produced a masterclass at Allegiant Stadium, outpointing Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez to claim all four super-middleweight world titles and etch his name deeper into boxing history.
In front of a raucous crowd of more than 70,000 — most cheering for Canelo on Mexican Independence Weekend — Crawford silenced the stadium with a tactical performance that earned him a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored it 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, extending Crawford’s flawless record to 42-0 (31 KOs), while Canelo dropped to 63-3-2.
Crawford, already undisputed at lightweight and welterweight, becomes the first male fighter in the four-belt era to conquer three divisions. He now holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine belts at 168 pounds — a feat no one has ever achieved.
The fight began cautiously, with Álvarez pressing forward and looking for openings. But from the sixth round, Crawford found his rhythm, landing sharp counters and using movement to frustrate the Mexican star.
A series of precise left hands marked up Álvarez’s face and forced him to chase the Omaha native, who dictated the tempo through the championship rounds.
By the final bell, Canelo — once considered nearly untouchable at super-middleweight — could only acknowledge his opponent’s brilliance. “I tried my best, but I couldn’t figure him out,” Álvarez admitted.
For Crawford, the night was about proving doubters wrong. “I told everybody this wasn’t luck,” he said. “I’ve shown I can go up, face the bigger man, and still be the best.”
The victory cements Crawford’s status among the all-time greats, while raising questions about Canelo’s future after surrendering his undisputed crown.
