Terence Crawford Makes History, Defeats Canelo Alvarez to Win Super Middleweight Championship
Terence Crawford made boxing history on Saturday night by becoming the first male boxer to capture three unified division titles, defeating Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision to claim the super middleweight championship. The fight took place at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium in front of a record-breaking crowd of 70,482 spectators.
Two judges scored the bout 115-113 for Crawford, while the third gave him 116-112. The Associated Press scored the fight 118-110 in favor of the 37-year-old Omaha native. After the decision, Crawford knelt in the ring and wept, marking a career-defining moment as he overcame the challenge of moving up two weight classes.
Although the bout was in Alvarez’s hometown arena, chants of “Crawford” echoed throughout the stadium during the later rounds, even from some Canelo supporters.
This fight marked the first professional defeat for Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) since his unanimous decision loss to Dmitrii Bivol in May 2022. Boxing enthusiasts were already comparing the match to some of the greatest fights in Las Vegas history, and the Allegiant Stadium setting made it even more historic—it was the first boxing match held at the venue.
The attendance record for a Las Vegas fight was shattered, surpassing Larry Holmes’ 1982 crowd of 29,214 at Caesars Palace and breaking Allegiant Stadium’s previous record of 63,969 set during a 2024 college football game.
Star-Studded Crowd and Global Attention
The fight drew major celebrities and boxing legends to the stands, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Thomas Hearns, and Julio Cesar Chavez. Other notable attendees included Sofia Vergara, Michael J. Fox, Charlize Theron, comedians Dave Chappelle and Tracy Morgan, and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, who was met with boos.
Unlike traditional pay-per-view events, the fight was streamed on Netflix, attracting global attention and potentially reaching viewing numbers not seen since the 1970s when major bouts aired on broadcast TV. With UFC President Dana White co-promoting alongside Riyadh Season, this fight may signal a new era of streaming-focused combat sports events rather than traditional pay-per-view.
Fight Breakdown
The first eight rounds saw cautious action, with Crawford demonstrating superior speed, agility, and technique. The ninth round ramped up the intensity as Crawford launched several combinations against Alvarez. A brief interruption occurred when Alvarez accidentally headbutted Crawford, but Crawford remained dominant through the later rounds, securing a historic victory.
Co-Main and Supporting Fights
In the co-main event, Callum Walsh (15-0, 11 KOs) from Ireland defeated Las Vegas’ Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-1, 15 KOs) with decisive scores of 99-91, 99-91, and 100-90. Vargas Jr.’s father, a boxing Hall of Famer, once held multiple super welterweight titles.
Meanwhile, Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) of France retained his WBC interim super middleweight title after a draw with Guatemala’s Lester Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs). Judges’ scorecards were split: Patricia Morse Jarman 97-93 for Martinez, Chris Migliore 96-94 for Mbilli, and Glenn Feldman 95-95.
Historic Night in Boxing
Crawford’s victory not only cements his legacy but also sets a milestone for boxing history. With the combination of record-breaking attendance, high-profile co-promotions, and streaming accessibility, this fight is likely to be remembered as one of the defining moments of the sport in the 21st century.