Terence Crawford outclassed Canelo Alvarez in a spectacular display of skill at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The judges handed Crawford a unanimous decision victory, but the scorecards have sparked debate among boxing experts.
Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis voiced his disagreement with the official scorecards. He believes the judges were too generous to Canelo.
"I would say he won like three rounds in that fight," Lewis said, suggesting that Canelo's performance fell short of what the scorecards indicated.
Crawford's speed and technique made the difference from the early rounds. He moved intelligently, countered effectively, and withstood Alvarez's pressure without losing his cool. Canelo, on the other hand, loaded up on most of his punches but failed to connect cleanly or unsettle Crawford consistently.
"Terence was too fast, too elusive... He was too good," Lewis added, praising Crawford's performance.
The victory improved Crawford's perfect record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts. Many experts consider this fight one of the best performances of his career, cementing his legacy as one of the most complete fighters in boxing today.
Judge Steve Weisfield scored the bout 116-112, while Tim Cheatham and Max DeLuca both had it 115-113, all in favor of Crawford. Despite the unanimous decision, these scores suggest a closer fight than what many observers, including Lewis, saw.
Crawford's win leaves no doubt about his status as one of boxing's elite. He showed variety in his attack, moved smartly, and countered when necessary. His ability to control the fight against a fighter of Canelo's caliber was impressive.
For Canelo Alvarez, this loss raises questions about his future in the division. He'll need to reassess his approach after being thoroughly outboxed by Crawford.
Lennox Lewis summed up the general sentiment in the boxing community: "Crawford deserves all the credit in the world." This fight will go down as a masterclass performance, one that puts Crawford's name among the greats of the sport.
