Terence Crawford Etches His Name Among the All-Time Greats

By William Dumoulin
Photo credit: David Becker/AP

In what was arguably the biggest fight in recent boxing history, Terence Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) made the bold move of jumping up two weight classes to challenge undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs).

As usual, Canelo started slowly, trying to cut off the ring, while Crawford relied on his mobility and worked behind a sharp jab. Throughout the fight, Alvarez struggled and clearly lost the battle of the jab. Unable to throw in combinations, the Mexican star was often countered by Crawford, who timed his shots between Canelo’s attempts, making it nearly impossible for Alvarez to string together power punches. Crawford’s footwork proved decisive as well, preventing Canelo from setting his feet and landing with full force.

After nine tactical rounds, the pace picked up in the later stages, with Crawford willing to trade more often in close quarters.

When the final bell rang, the judges delivered a unanimous decision in favor of Terence Crawford (116-112, 115-113 x2). With the win, the American carved out his place in boxing history by becoming a world champion in a fifth weight class and an undisputed champion in a third. He also became the first fighter ever to claim titles as both a lightweight and a super middleweight.

Crawford now stands as one of the greatest fighters of all time. The only question left: will he push the limits even further, or walk away on top, retiring as a legend of his era?