Crawford moved up two weight classes to challenge Alvarez and pulled off an impressive victory. He controlled the fight across all 12 rounds, showcasing his speed, timing, precision, and defensive skills.
Many doubted Crawford could handle Alvarez's power and experience at the higher weight. But "Bud" surprised everyone by exchanging punches with the bigger man and coming out on top. His ability to adapt and stay composed under pressure proved crucial.
The middle rounds saw some momentum shifts, but Crawford maintained control throughout. His technical boxing ability and strategic approach allowed him to outmaneuver Alvarez consistently.
After the fight, Alvarez praised his opponent highly:
"I think Crawford is way better than Floyd Mayweather."
This marks only the third professional loss for Canelo in his storied career.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith correctly predicted a Crawford decision win beforehand. He noted after the fight:
"Crawford had enough power and boxing skills to keep Canelo off him. Crawford exchanged punches, survived, and prospered unexpectedly. Crawford's boxing superiority was expected."
Smith stopped short of saying Crawford surpassed Mayweather, noting Floyd's defensive mastery and sustained excellence at welterweight despite hand injuries.
With this victory, Crawford became the first male boxer ever to unify three weight divisions - super lightweight, welterweight, and now super middleweight. He improves his perfect record to 42-0 with 31 KOs.
The win cements Crawford's status as one of boxing's premier talents. He'll look to further build his legacy in the 168-pound division moving forward. This performance against a larger, more experienced champion will go down as a defining moment demonstrating Crawford's skill, toughness and ability to excel across multiple weight classes.