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Canelo vs. Crawford: Boxing Giants Gear Up for Netflix Showdown

Published 2 days ago5 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Canelo vs. Crawford: Boxing Giants Gear Up for Netflix Showdown

Two of boxing's most dominant figures, Canelo Alvarez and Terence "Bud" Crawford, are set to collide in a highly anticipated, once-in-a-generation showdown on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This monumental clash will see Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), the reigning WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF super middleweight champion, put his undisputed titles on the line. He faces the undefeated, four-division king Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), who is boldly moving up two weight classes to challenge at 168 pounds.

The stakes are incredibly high for both fighters. Canelo, 35, and ranked No. 8 in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings, enters the bout after a May victory over William Scull, which saw him become the undisputed 168-pound champion for the second time. Crawford, 37, and ESPN's third-ranked pound-for-pound boxer, will end a yearlong hiatus, having last fought in August 2024 when he captured the WBA junior middleweight title from Israil Madrimov. For Crawford, a win would solidify his status as an all-time great, making him the only male boxer in the four-belt era to be an undisputed champion in three weight classes. For Canelo, a victory over a highly-ranked opponent like Crawford would undoubtedly elevate him from his current No. 8 pound-for-pound spot.

Boxing fans globally can watch the event as it streams live and exclusively on Netflix. Coverage is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 13, with the main card likely starting at 8 p.m. ET and the main-event ring walks following at 11 p.m. ET. The full fight card includes several compelling matchups: the main event between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford for the undisputed super middleweight championship (12 rounds), Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr. (10 rounds, junior middleweights), Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez (12 rounds, super middleweights), Mohammed Alakel vs. John Ornelas (10 rounds, junior lightweights), Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brandon Adams (10 rounds, junior middleweights), Ivan Dychko vs. Jermaine Franklin Jr. (10 rounds, heavyweights), Steven Nelson vs. Raiko Santana (10 rounds, super middleweights), Reito Tsutsumi vs. Javier Martinez (6 rounds, junior lightweights), and Sultan Almohamed vs. Martin Caraballo (4 rounds, lightweights).

A deeper look into their extensive careers reveals the paths that led these two fighters to this historic encounter.

Canelo Alvarez's Career Highlights:

  • Best Performance: His unanimous decision win over Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin in their trilogy fight on September 17, 2022, is considered Canelo's most significant win. This victory, four years after their second bout, allowed Canelo to settle the trilogy and provide a perfect response after his decision loss to Dmitry Bivol just months prior.
  • Best Knockout: The 11th-round KO of Sergey Kovalev on November 2, 2019, stands out. Canelo, then a middleweight champion, moved up two weight divisions (15 pounds) to defeat the renowned light heavyweight world champion and claim the WBO belt, becoming a world champion in a fourth weight class.
  • Most Important Fight: The controversial split draw against Gennadiy Golovkin on September 16, 2017. Although it garnered criticism, it motivated Canelo to produce better performances, leading to two more wins against Golovkin and conquering two more weight divisions.
  • Most Dominant Win: An 8th-round TKO over Billy Joe Saunders on May 8, 2021. A pulverizing right uppercut caused Saunders' eye to close and necessitated surgery, allowing Alvarez to unify the WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight titles in front of a record indoor boxing crowd.
  • Most Disappointing Performance: His unanimous decision win against William Scull on May 3, 2025. This recent outing was deemed anticlimactic and sleep-inducing, with Alvarez throwing a meager 152 punches, leading to widespread criticism and a disappointing debut in Saudi Arabia, despite securing his second undisputed 168-pound title.

Terence Crawford's Career Highlights:

  • Best Performance: His 9th-round TKO over Errol Spence Jr. on July 29, 2023, was a technical master class. Crawford floored Spence three times, showcasing his counterpunching and ultimately becoming the undisputed welterweight champion.
  • Best Knockout: The 9th-round TKO of Yuriorkis Gamboa on June 28, 2014, in his first world title defense. Despite a tough fight, Crawford scored four knockdowns, with a sweet right uppercut in Round 9 finishing the unbeaten Gamboa.
  • Most Important Fight: His unanimous decision win against Ricky Burns on March 1, 2014, in Glasgow, Scotland. This fight, where Crawford won the WBO lightweight title, launched his career and cemented his reputation as a talented prospect, enabling him to win world titles in four weight classes.
  • Most Dominant Win: A 6th-round TKO over Amir Khan on April 20, 2019. Crawford dominated from the first bell, dropping Khan in Round 1 and showcasing a combination of power, speed, and ring IQ, forcing Khan's corner to stop the fight after an unintentional low blow.
  • Most Disappointing Performance: His unanimous decision win against Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024. Despite winning the WBA junior middleweight title and becoming a four-division champion, Crawford expressed disappointment, noting Madrimov's discipline and strength, and that he was taken the distance for the first time since 2016.

As the date approaches, all eyes will be on Las Vegas to witness whether Canelo can defend his undisputed status against an undefeated, ascending Crawford, or if Crawford can etch his name deeper into boxing history by conquering a third undisputed weight class. The event promises to be a defining moment for both legends.

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