In a historic boxing event at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 14, 2025, Terence 'Bud' Crawford cemented his legacy by defeating Canelo Alvarez via unanimous decision, ending Canelo's undefeated run at 168 lbs and claiming the undisputed super-middleweight title. This victory made Crawford, at 37 years old, the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three different weight classes, having previously achieved this feat at junior welterweight and welterweight. The event, streamed live on Netflix, drew an announced crowd of 70,482, predominantly made up of Canelo's fervent fanbase.

Crawford, who moved up two weight divisions from 154 pounds to challenge Alvarez, displayed a masterclass in skill and strategy. Entering the fight with an impressive 41-0 record (31 KOs), he showcased exceptional movement, an active jab, and well-timed combinations throughout the 36-minute contest. Canelo, 35, a celebrated Mexican icon with a pre-fight record of 63-2-2 (39 KOs), had only previously lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dmitry Bivol. Despite being the naturally larger man and the undisputed champion, Alvarez struggled to impose his will on the elusive Crawford, often finding himself stymied and visibly frustrated.

Crawford's tactical approach was evident from the start, as he adopted a southpaw stance for the entire bout. He effectively boxed on the backfoot, utilizing a 'matador' style to counter Canelo's relentless pressure and body shots. Punch statistics revealed Crawford outlanded Alvarez 115-99 in total punches and a significant 45-16 in jabs, though Alvarez held an 83-70 edge in power punches. Key moments included Crawford's sharp combinations in the early rounds, his ability to evade danger despite Canelo's aggressive pursuit, and a daring decision to stand and trade blows in the seventh round, which paid off. The fight saw a worrying clash of heads in the ninth round, and towards the end, Crawford landed a beautiful southpaw left uppercut in the eleventh, ultimately closing the fight strongly with a pair of sweeping left hooks in the final round.

The judges' scorecards reflected Crawford's dominance, with Tim Cheatham and Max De Luca scoring it 115-113, and Steve Weisfeld giving a wider margin of 116-112, all in favor of Crawford. While the unanimous decision confirmed Crawford's win, some early round scoring by De Luca and Weisfeld raised eyebrows among boxing fans, with De Luca even scoring the fight a draw after ten rounds. Following the announcement, Crawford, whose record now stands at 42-0 (31 KOs), broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the magnitude of his achievement. He expressed respect for Canelo, stating,