How Terence Crawford did the "impossible" against Canelo Alvarez.

Here’s how Terence “Bud” Crawford defeated Canelo Álvarez on September 13, 2025 — a win that many are calling a defining moment in boxing history. 

The fight was for the undisputed super-middleweight titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, The Ring). 

Crawford moved up two weight classes to meet Canelo at 167.5 lbs. Both fighters weighed in at that number. 

Canelo came in as the defending champion, with a storied resume. Crawford, undefeated, had already achieved undisputed status in lower divisions, and this fight offered a chance to add another historic accomplishment. 

What Craw­ford Did Well

1. Tactical Leverage & Movement
Crawford used excellent footwork and distance control. He often dictated the pace, choosing when to engage and when to counter. Being the southpaw, his angles and switch in stance made it harder for Canelo to find clean offensive patterns. 

2. Effective Jab & Counters
Instead of trying to match raw power from Canelo, Crawford leaned on precision, speed, and timing. He favored jabs and quicker combinations, countering well whenever Canelo committed. 

3. Endurance & Adjustments
As the rounds went on, Crawford’s style paid dividends. After tightly contested early rounds, he increasingly took over, especially in the second half of the fight. He was able to maintain or raise his output, while absorbing Canelo’s pressure more cleanly. 

4. Mental Composure under Pressure
Fighting in front of a large, largely pro-Canelo crowd at Allegiant Stadium, Crawford showed poise. Even when Canelo had moments — body shots, level changes — Crawford didn’t panic. He managed the pressure, stayed defensively sound, and didn’t let momentum swings derail him. 

After 12 rounds, the judges awarded a unanimous decision to Crawford with scores of 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. 

With this win, Crawford became undisputed super-middleweight champion, and in doing so made history: the first male boxer in the four-belt era to have been undisputed champion in three different weight classes. 

The loss was significant for Canelo, only officially the third in his career, though many have strong reasons to say he also lost his first two fights with Gennady Golovkin.