Crawford defeats Alvarez to become 3X undisputed champion

Terence Crawford won a unanimous decision over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, capturing the undisputed super middleweight championship.

The judges scored the fight 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in favour of Crawford, making him the first male boxer to hold undisputed titles in three different weight classes.

The fight started with both fighters feeling each other out in the first round, with Crawford using his southpaw stance to jab and maintain distance while Alvarez tried to find openings.

Crawford’s quick footwork kept him elusive, and his jab to the body and head set the tone early. Alvarez landed some counters and body shots but couldn’t impose his typical power in the opening round.

In rounds two and three, Alvarez worked harder to cut off the ring and landed more body shots, but Crawford’s defence and counterpunching remained effective. Both fighters exchanged jabs consistently, but Crawford’s hand speed gave him a slight edge.

By the middle rounds, Crawford took increasing control. In the sixth round, he carried out a slick series of jabs and scored with swift counter left hands, while Alvarez landed harder body shots but appeared less effective overall.

Clinch work also became more frequent, with occasional referee interventions to keep the fight clean.

The ninth round was intense, with fierce exchanges before an accidental headbutt briefly brought things to a pause. Crawford kept Alvarez chasing while landing precise jabs and combinations. The corner urged Alvarez to ramp up the pressure, realizing he needed to wear down Crawford to have a chance of turning the fight.

As the championship rounds happened, Crawford’s speed and ring intelligence became more evident. He outlanded Alvarez significantly, making him miss frequently while landing clean punches, outlanding Alvarez 115 to 99 overall with 534 punches thrown to Alvarez’s 338. Alvarez did land more power punches, but was visibly fatigued and less effective at closing distance.

In the late rounds, Crawford found his rhythm with some successful combinations, including a right hook to the body and a straight left to the head in the 11th round.

Early in the 12th round, Crawford hit Alvarez with so much force, causing him to stagger, but he did not go down. He remained in control until the final bell, landing clean shots even in the closing seconds.

The victory improved Crawford’s record to 42-0, as he enters a new phase of his boxing career as an undefeated fighter. Alvarez accepted the loss gracefully, acknowledging Crawford’s skill and taking pride in his effort. Talks of a rematch might surface soon.