Canelo Álvarez dethroned: the fight that crowned Crawford king of the super middleweights

It’s the end of Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez’s reign at 168 pounds. Las Vegas once again staged one of the Mexican’s fights, but this time it was the Allegiant Stadium that witnessed history as Terence Crawford claimed all the belts at super middleweight, becoming the new undisputed champion.

The ring was smaller than usual, something Álvarez took advantage of in the opening rounds. Crawford tried to move and keep away, but couldn’t escape the ropes and was caught by a body shot in response to the left hand he had landed in the first.

There was plenty of respect between the two early on. Crawford learned not to retreat too far, instead engaging in exchanges, while Álvarez appeared more strategic. He wasn’t chasing a knockout – instead he focused on racking up body shots, finding it easier than trying to break through his rival’s defense.

Álvarez pressed forward in the third, landing to the face. Crawford’s answer was to hit the body while circling, but that left him cornered in dangerous territory. He managed to slip away, but not before taking a heavy right hand that drew a smile. The bell came to his rescue.

The Mexican continued with his body-punching plan, while Crawford sought the knockout but couldn’t quite find it. Álvarez kept fighting at close quarters, throwing combinations downstairs to wear him down, while Crawford countered with jabs and flurries. The Allegiant crowd roared with every exchange.

Crawford’s jab became his most effective weapon, repeatedly snapping Álvarez’s head back. That forced the Mexican to go back downstairs, but in doing so he left openings that Crawford punished with sharp counters. The American’s corner urged patience, waiting for Canelo to tire and make mistakes. The Mexican seemed to realize the trap and landed a looping right to Crawford’s head that visibly shook him.

By the ninth, Crawford shifted gears, coming out aggressive in search of a knockout. Álvarez responded with a clean right hand, but fatigue began to weigh heavy on him. In the later rounds, he was throwing single shots – accurate ones to the head – but not enough to force the finish.

In the end, despite moments of danger, Álvarez stuck to a cautious, point-scoring strategy rather than going all out. That left the fight to the judges’ cards, and they all sided with Crawford. The unanimous decision stripped Álvarez of his crown and confirmed Terence Crawford as the new undisputed super middleweight champion.

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