On the night of September 13th, 2025, boxing witnessed a seismic shift. Terence “Bud” Crawford stepped into the ring against Saul “Canelo” Álvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and walked away with more than just a win, he made history.
In front of a roaring crowd of over 70,000 fans (Wang), Crawford defeated Canelo by unanimous decision to become the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world. The judges scored it 115-113, 115–113, and 116–112, all in favor of Crawford (Anderson).
From the opening bell, Crawford showed why he’s considered one of the smartest boxers alive. He used masterful footwork and slick defense to frustrate Canelo, who struggled to cut off the ring or land clean punches. Fighting mostly as a southpaw, Crawford kept distance with his jab and constantly moved off the line, avoiding Canelo’s body attacks (Sport).
Canelo’s game plan seemed built on pressure, but it wasn’t enough. As the rounds went on, Crawford 
began to outbox him cleanly, winning key exchanges and limiting damage taken. In Round 9, both fighters let their hands go, but Crawford recovered quickly and shut the door on any momentum Canelo tried to build (Williams).
By the championship rounds, it was Crawford who looked sharper and more in control. When the final bell rang, there was no controversy; Crawford had just delivered one of the most impressive performances of his already legendary career.
With the win, Crawford became the first male fighter in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three weight divisions (Anderson). He now holds a unique place in boxing history.
Tumwater Takes on the Fight..
10th grader Vera Pogue said she enjoyed watching the Crawford fight, calling it exciting and impressive. She appreciated his control in the ring and said the match sparked her interest in learning more about boxing.
10th grader Shairae Ribac also enjoyed the Crawford fight, noting it was intense and kept her engaged the whole time. She was impressed by Crawford’s skill and said it made her appreciate the sport more.
Upcoming Fights to Watch
While the boxing world is still reacting to Crawford’s incredible win, fans have a full lineup of exciting fights to look forward to this fall and winter. Here are some of the biggest matchups on the horizon.
Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman – Expected on October 25, this fight will see Fundora defend his WBC super welterweight title against the veteran Thurman (Christ).
Alycia Baumgardner title defense – She’ll be co-headlining a major event in November, defending her unified super featherweight belts in a fight being promoted on Netflix (Guillen).
Citations
Anderson, M. (2025, September 14). Terence Crawford defeats Canelo Alvarez to claim the super middleweight crown. AP News.
Williams, C. (2025, September 14). Boxing news 24. Boxing News 24. https://www.boxingnews24.com/2025/09/canelo-alvarez-explains-his-inability-to-find-a-solution-for-terence-crawford
Sport, B. (n.d.). Canelo vs Crawford RECAP: Relive how Terence Crawford beat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez by unanimous decision in Las Vegas. BBC Sport. Retrieved September 23, 2025
Wang, G. (2025, September 14). Terence Crawford cements his legacy with a 12-round decision over Canelo Álvarez. The Washington Post.
Christ, S. (2025, September 19). ‘Fundora is afraid of me’: Brian Mendoza wants rematch for WBC title. Bad Left Hook.
Guillen, A. (2025, September 24). Paul vs. Tank main card revealed, Alycia Baumgardner defends unified titles in Netflix co-headliner. MMA Mania. \