Las Vegas – they said he couldn’t do it until he did it – again.
Terenka Crawford has proved that the size did not matter when preparing the master class to defeat Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision and become the undisputed champion of a super -medium weight on Saturday evening at the Allegian stadium. The judges won it on 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
Along with winning Crawford (42-0, 31 KO) became the first boxer in the era of four stripes, which became the undisputed champion in three weight classes. And he did it with the style in front of the announced crowd of 70,482 – most of which were Alvarez fans – and millions more who sent a streaming live fight in Netflix.
After winning world titles in four weight classes – including the unquestioned welterweight status and welterweight – Crawford, which turns 38 in two weeks, made a brave jump from 154 pounds to 168 pounds to the largest box of boxing.
“I told you that I am not here only by accident. God blessed me,” said Crawford. “He did this event and created that night only for me. And I told you it. It’s not my fault. It’s God.”
Despite close results cards, it seemed that Crawford won a wider margin, because he routinely hindered Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KO) and left the Mexican star looking as lost as he did when he was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013. Alvhareez, 35 years venerable, improved significantly, but Crawford was simply a better fighter who was not two steps.
Crawford Outlanded Alvarez 115-99 in complete blows and 45-16 in JABS. He passed Alvarez, when this mattered the most, the most expressive moment happened in the 11th round, when the straight stab landed by Crawford forced Alvarez to go back and embrace the head with disbelief.
The size difference dominated the conversation in the fight and although both warriors weighed 167.5 pounds on Friday, it was expected that Crawford’s power and strength would overwhelm.
It didn’t happen.
“I am the winner that he is here,” said Alvarez, who entered Fight 10-0 in Super Middle I gain and the winner of six consecutive fights, and his only loss in the last 10 years appeared at the hands of Dmitry Bivol in 2022, when he tried to capture the title of world champion in a featherlight heavyweight.
But against the warrior, the approaching weight Alvarez fought for a significant crime and was managed by Crawford overdue in battle.
“There is no failure here,” said Alvarez. “The fact that I am here makes me already a winner. I did everything in my career. I took the risk and I just did. I take risks.”
But it was Crawford who took the greatest risk, climbing to 168 pounds, when almost everyone, even his opponent, said that it was too much to overcome.
The performance was on a par with the demolition of Errola Spence Jr. Crawford in 2023 to become a welterweight champion. Although he was not as violent, he was as perfect as he could have been to one of the best fighters of this era.
Fighting with Omah in the state of Nebraska, Crawford used the movement early to keep Alvarez off-balance, held an busy stab and chose his places with difficult combinations in a 36-minute romance. Crawford was chosen from the very beginning when Alvarez tried to turn off his opponent. But Crawford’s movement prevented Alvarez, rumbling inside and landing of his power shots. Instead, Alvarez was at the end of the Crawford combination. Crawford began to collect the pace in round 4, when he hit the blows together and avoided danger.
The fighting pride with Guadalajara in Mexico Alvarez was successful to the body in the hope of slowing down Crawford. However, Crawford’s movement prevented Alvarez from setting your feet and limiting sensible combinations. In the 7th round, Crawford decided to sit in his pocket and exchange with Alvarez, which seemed to surprise him. Alvarez began to clearly wear frustration on his face when Crawford bounced off the combination from the head and slipped away.
Crawford did not rest on the perceived advantage and went to work in the championship rounds, strongly beating Alvarez in the blow. Many fans have been able to leave before the decision was announced.
For those who remained and firmly hit Crawford, these Boos turned to a grateful shout for the best boxers. In his career he may not remain much for Crawford, but he refused to retire.
“I don’t know,” said Crawford, asked if it would be his last fight. “I have to sit with my team and we’ll talk about it.”
If Crawford enters the boxing ring for the last time, you should have a earnest conversation about his place among the greatest boxers of all time.
