Terence Crawford produced a clinic against Canelo Alvarez to take the undisputed super-middleweight titles from the Mexican star on Saturday, making history in the process.
With his unanimous-decision victory over Canelo at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas – where more than 70,000 fans watched on – Crawford became the first three-weight undisputed champion of the modern era.
The unbeaten American, 37, achieved scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 to add to his prior undisputed triumphs at super-lightweight and welterweight. In doing so, he became a five-weight world champion, going one better than Canelo, 35.
Over the course of 12 rounds, Crawford’s fleeter footwork and shrewd shot selection proved too much for Canelo, who was relying on his size advantage and sporadic power punches.
In the later rounds, Crawford only got better, unloading repeated combinations on Canelo and causing him visible frustration in front of a sizeable Mexican fanbase inside Allegiant Stadium.
After the result was read aloud, an emotional Crawford fell to his knees before refusing to retire, despite speculation that he could call time on a future Hall of Fame career.
Meanwhile, Canelo was gracious in defeat and added: “I already did a lot in boxing. I already accomplished a lot in boxing. My legacy is already there, and I’m still taking risks, because I love boxing.”
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