Terence Crawford has done it. The American boxer outclassed Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Las Vegas to become the new undisputed super middleweight champion. Crawford's mobility and accuracy made the difference in a closely contested fight, with the judges scoring it 116-112 and 115-113 twice in his favor.
Crawford, now boasting a perfect record of 42 wins with 31 knockouts, managed to avoid Alvarez imposing his powerful punching style. Canelo, despite landing some heavy blows, couldn't find the consistency needed to retain his titles. The Mexican's record now stands at 63 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws.
After the fight, Crawford kept his options open. He said:
"I'll relax and enjoy myself with my team. Then we'll see what's next."
When asked about a potential rematch, Crawford showed interest but made it clear that the financial terms would need to be right.
Canelo, gracious in defeat, reflected on his legacy:
"A loss does not define me, being here I already won. My legacy is there and I will stay here."
The Mexican champion also expressed his willingness to continue taking on top opponents, showing that this setback hasn't dampened his competitive spirit.
A rematch isn't off the table, but it's not a simple decision. Key figures like Turki Alalshikh and Canelo himself will play crucial roles in determining if a second bout happens. Canelo admitted that while he's open to the idea, the decision isn't solely up to him.
Crawford's historic victory opens up exciting possibilities for his future. He could face hard-hitting contenders like David Benavidez, or even move up to light heavyweight to challenge Dmitri Bivol or Artur Beterbiev. There's also talk of a potential fight during Riyadh Season, possibly against rising star Hamzah Sheeraz.
As for Canelo, he's expected to face David Benavidez next as part of his four-fight agreement with Turki Alalshikh. The Mexican star hopes to reclaim his titles in the future, proving that his fighting spirit remains unbroken.
This fight will go down in boxing history as a defining moment for Crawford. It's also a reminder that in the world of boxing, nothing is certain until the final bell rings.
