Terence Crawford dethrones Canelo, becomes first man undisputed in three divisions

Terence Crawford outboxed Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez over 12 rounds on Mexican Independence weekend at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to become the first male fighter to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions in the four-belt era.

The unanimous decision, scored 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113, completed a career-defining night for Crawford in front of roughly 70,000 spectators and a global streaming audience on Netflix. Crawford, unbeaten in 42 professional fights, moved up two weight classes to dethrone Alvarez and add the super-middleweight crowns to an already glowing résumé.

Crawford repeatedly countered Alvarez’s attacks after the fifth round and controlled the tempo of the fight, drawing praise from his defeated opponent. In the post-fight news conference, Alvarez said of Crawford: "I think he's way better than Floyd Mayweather." Alvarez, who has lost only three times in 68 professional bouts, said he intends to continue fighting despite the setback.

Crawford, 37 and approaching his 38th birthday, did not seek the label of boxing's leading man, saying during fight week that he never wanted to be the face of the sport. After the victory he embraced the moment, posting on social media "For all the nobodies" and telling reporters, "When he signed the contract" was when he knew he had beaten Alvarez. He dismissed direct comparisons with Floyd Mayweather, saying "Floyd was the greatest of his era. I'm the greatest of this era. There's no need to compare."

The result cements a rare set of accomplishments for Crawford. He has now won world titles in multiple weight classes across a career that began in 2008 and is widely regarded as one of the era's most complete boxers. The win also intensified calls to recognise him as the sport's pound-for-pound No. 1.

Alvarez, 35, arrived in Las Vegas as boxing's biggest commercial star, reportedly earning a $150 million purse for the bout and carrying a long list of marquee victories. In his post-fight remarks he reflected on his career and singled out Crawford’s all-around skill, telling reporters simply that "he has everything." He acknowledged the difficulty of meeting the physical demands of elite competition, saying there are times "you try and your body cannot go."

The fight represented a high-profile collaboration between traditional fight promotion and streaming distribution. Netflix, with a global subscriber base in the hundreds of millions, delivered the bout to a potentially record-breaking worldwide audience, while UFC president Dana White — representing Zuffa Boxing — was a prominent presence in promotion. Observers have said the combination of big-platform streaming and centralized promotion could reshape parts of boxing's commercial landscape.

Crawford's victory will shape short-term matchmaking and broader legacy discussions. He now stands among a small group of late-career unbeaten champions — names that industry observers say are all but guaranteed Hall of Fame status. Promoters, networks and fighters will weigh potential rematches, cross-division clashes and the commercial appeal of further super-fights as the sport adapts to a changing media environment.

As Crawford soaked in the acclaim, he framed the night as the culmination of long-held belief. "When I set my sights on doing something and I know what I'm capable of, it's not like a surprise to me," he told reporters. For Alvarez, the defeat raises fresh questions about the twilight of a storied career; for boxing, the bout offered a vivid example of a new era in which streaming platforms and centralized promotion converge on the sport's biggest events.

Officials will now turn to contractual obligations, potential rematch clauses and sanctioning-body politics that typically follow high-stakes title changes. For the moment, however, the headlines belong to Crawford: unbeaten, undisputed across three divisions and sitting at the summit of the sport.