Crawford won by unanimous decision, showcasing his skills and dominating the fight. This victory marks a significant milestone in Crawford's career, as he becomes the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be undisputed champion in three weight divisions.
After the fight, Canelo Alvarez surprised everyone with his post-fight comments.
"I think Crawford is much better than Floyd Mayweather," Alvarez said. "I tried my best, but I couldn't find his style. Sometimes you try and your body doesn't respond. Crawford is a great fighter, he knows how to move, he is very complete."
These words carry extra weight coming from Canelo, who previously lost to Mayweather earlier in his career.
Crawford, on the other hand, showed respect for his opponent while asserting his own greatness.
"Canelo is a great champion, a strong competitor. I'm a fan of him and today he fought like a champion," Crawford stated. "Floyd was the best of his era. I am the best of mine. There is no need to compare us."
The fight's turning point came in the sixth round when Crawford stepped up the pressure.
"I felt I was in control, but I decided to step it up a little bit more. From there everything changed," Crawford explained.
Crawford's achievement echoes that of Henry Armstrong, who became undisputed in three divisions back in 1938, before the four-belt era. This victory cements Crawford's place in boxing history and stands as his most iconic win after moving up two weight classes.
In a final surprising comment, Crawford downplayed Canelo's renowned punching power.
"I've been hit harder. Kavaliauskas, for example, hits harder than him," Crawford remarked.
This historic fight will go down as a defining moment in both fighters' careers, with Crawford's star rising even higher and Canelo graciously acknowledging a superior opponent on the night.