Terence Crawford defeats Canelo Álvarez by unanimous decision in front of a record-breaking Allegiant Stadium crowd, cementing his legacy among boxing’s all-time greats.
History was made at Allegiant Stadium as Terence Crawford delivered a career-defining performance against Saul “Canelo” Álvarez in one of the most anticipated boxing events in years. The undefeated four-division superstar defeated the undisputed Super Middleweight champion by unanimous decision after 12 intense rounds, with judges scoring the bout 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.
The sold-out fight night shattered multiple records at Allegiant Stadium. With a live gate grossing $47,231,887 and attendance reaching 70,482, the event set new benchmarks as the highest-attended and highest-grossing single-day event in stadium history. It also marked the second-largest indoor boxing attendance in U.S. history, surpassing Ali-Spinks II.
Crawford’s victory improves his record to 41-0 (31 KOs) and solidifies his reputation as one of the greatest fighters in the modern era. Canelo, who now stands at 62-2-2 (39 KOs), acknowledged the magnitude of the night, calling it “a great night for boxing” and praising Crawford’s performance.
The star-studded audience was as headline-worthy as the fight itself, with celebrities including Mike Tyson, Charlize Theron, Lizzo, Sofia Vergara, Dave Chappelle, Mark Wahlberg, Jeremy Renner, Magic Johnson, Wiz Khalifa, SZA, Michael J. Fox, Josh Duhamel, Mr. Beast, and many more taking in the historic showdown from ringside.
The main card delivered plenty of additional excitement. Callum Walsh defeated Fernando Vargas Jr. via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 100-90), while Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez ended in a split draw (93-97, 96-94, 95-95). Mohammed Alakel also claimed victory over Travis Kent Crawford with a unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92).
The preliminary bouts featured Brandon Adams defeating Serhii Bohachuk, Jermaine Franklin topping Ivan Dychko, and Reito Tsutsumi scoring a first-round TKO against Javier Martinez. Other winners included Sultan Almohammed, Raiko Santana, and Marco Verde, with each fight adding to a memorable night of action.
At the post-fight press conference, Crawford reflected on his achievement, calling it his “signature win” after moving up two weight classes to take on Álvarez. He credited his preparation and execution, adding: “Of course … everything we set our sights on, we executed. I wanted to do a little more, but my coaches wanted me to keep doing what was working.”
He emphasized the historic significance of the win: “For sure, this is definitely a signature win … moving up two weight classes, being the B side, fighting a guy that’s been undefeated in the division, undisputed … of course this means a lot.”
Álvarez, while disappointed, showed grace in defeat, saying: “We knew Crawford is a great fighter. I did what I was supposed to do, right? I trained really hard and he deserves all the credit. I tried my best tonight and I just could not figure out the style.”
The Mexican superstar also offered high praise to his opponent, declaring, “I think Crawford is way better than Floyd Mayweather.”
With his victory, Crawford not only handed Álvarez his first loss in the division but also cemented his status as one of the pound-for-pound best in boxing history. Whether a rematch is on the horizon remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this unforgettable night will be remembered as a defining moment in both fighters’ legacies.
