Terence Crawford outboxed Canelo Alvarez in a thrilling fight at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 13. The bout ended with Crawford winning by unanimous decision, making him the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be undisputed in three divisions.
The judges' scorecards showed a closer fight than many experts believed, with two scoring it 115-113 and one 116-112 in Crawford's favor. This sparked a debate about judging in big fights.
Roy Jones Jr. voiced his opinion on the matter:
"Crawford was clearly the better fighter. That 115-113 scoreline really belittled his dominance in there."
Andre Ward suggested that Crawford's late push might have been a strategic move:
"Las Vegas judges tend to favor the 'money fighter' in close fights. Crawford probably accelerated in the 11th round to avoid any potential controversial decision."
The fight started with Canelo winning some early rounds. But as the bout progressed, Crawford set the pace with accurate counterattacks and strategic aggression. He controlled the second half of the fight, including the championship rounds.
The event broke viewership records. A whopping 41.4 million people watched the fight on Netflix, with 36.6 million tuning in live. At its peak, there were 24 million simultaneous streams across 30 countries. This made it the most-watched men's boxing fight this century.
The live audience was equally impressive. 70,482 fans packed into Allegiant Stadium, generating $47 million in ticket revenue - the third-largest in boxing history.
These numbers put the fight in perspective when compared to recent boxing events. Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson drew 108 million viewers, while Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 attracted 74 million. However, Crawford vs. Canelo stands out as a real championship clash, not an exhibition spectacle.
The event confirmed boxing's relevance in the streaming era and attracted global crowds for both legacy and title stakes. It will be remembered as a global spectacle that combined sporting legacy, fan passion, and cultural impact.
