How fair are we being to Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) after his recent trouncing at the hands of Terence Crawford (42-0-0, 31 KOs)? How fair are we being to Crawford?
On Saturday, September 13th, 2025, Terence “Bud” Crawford became the first male fighter to become undisputed champion in three weight classes. Not only that, but he did so by jumping two (basically three) weight classes to defeat the long-reigning champion and power puncher, Canelo Álvarez.
The consensus heading into the fight, regardless of who you picked, was that Crawford had the edge in basically every attribute, but that size would be a major factor in the fight. Would Crawford be able to withstand Canelo’s powerful punches, and if so, would he be able to put a dent in the naturally larger man? Would his stamina last the fight with the added muscle mass? These were all valid questions considering the recent history of fighters jumping weight classes and the resulting outcomes (Golovkin vs. Brook, Canelo vs. Khan, for example).
Similar to the Crawford vs. Spence fight, what transpired on fight night was more one-sided than many could have imagined. Crawford brilliantly used precise footwork, sharp angles, and fluid counterpunching to frustrate and humiliate Álvarez, who never stopped trying yet was never able to mount a successful attack. At about the halfway point in the fight, both Canelo and his corner appeared to be out of ideas, and Crawford continued to dig into his deep bag of tools to dazzle and impress fans around the world. In the eleventh, Canelo stepped back, appearing to sulk after being caught flush with a tricky jab, before trudging forward, defeated as he’d ever been. One was reminded of the miserable scene that played out when Sunny Edwards, hopelessly outclassed by Galal Yafai, stated to his corner, “I don’t even want to be here.” Indeed, it was clear that Canelo was at odds with himself in that moment, and though he is a true competitor, he had never dealt with the pure intractability that he found himself across from on what was supposed to be his night.
While many have acknowledged Crawford’s mastery of the sport and have even praised Canelo for accepting defeat with dignity and grace, others have taken to discrediting his skills, accomplishments, and opponents. It is hard to fathom praising Crawford for such an incredible accomplishment while, in the same breath, expressing that Canelo was never very good to begin with. Whether or not you’re a fan, you must acknowledge that Canelo has come out on top against many top fighters, including Golovkin in their second fight, Miguel Cotto in the midst of his career revival, Caleb Plant, and a slew of other solid B+ to A- fighters. His run at 168, gathering all four belts within the span of a year and a half, was impressive, and his power was proven even against fighters 20–25 lbs. heavier than himself. He held belts in four different weight classes and defeated 23 world or former world champions.
He will certainly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and has been an icon in his country and to many around the world. He would still likely be a money fighter in any matchup should he choose to continue fighting, and would be hell for many other fighters at 168.
This is all to say that this is the person Crawford defeated, not some bum or pretender. He did not beat up a paper champion or take the belts from someone who never should have been the guy to beat. Crawford jumped up to 168 after only one fight at 154 and put a beating on a proven undisputed champion, and Canelo’s greatness, coupled with the apparent ease of Crawford’s win, further proves that Bud is a generational talent. In fact, two of the three fighters who have defeated Canelo have proven to be generationally talented fighters, and the other is a great, larger man.
There’s a reason that great, mature fighters do not often dismiss their beaten opponents as weak or impostors. If you believe that they are, it diminishes your victory.
Lastly, there’s a debate about whether Canelo was too old, and a counterargument that Crawford is older, so Canelo’s age is irrelevant.
Canelo is definitely past his prime and no longer employs the same sort of head movement or counterpunching that he did while he was ripping through the 168-lb. division and collecting belts. Additionally, he has a lot of wear on his body, having gone professional at 15 years old, with close to 70 fights. Not all fighters age the same, and although Canelo is slightly younger than Crawford, he isn’t as fresh as he once was, while Crawford seems to have discovered the fountain of youth. But after last Saturday, it is hard to envision any version of Canelo overcoming the Crawford we witnessed—just like it is hard to see Canelo defeating any version of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Already, there are murmurs of a possible rematch, which were slightly elevated when the WBC announced that Canelo is the #1 contender at super-middleweight in their newly released rankings. With even more time to adjust to the higher weight class, it is very difficult to imagine Bud being less successful in a second fight. Canelo is a great fighter with a massive following, who has always given his all despite the nagging issues with footwork and stamina that he has never been able to shake. When you think about it, what he was able to accomplish despite these limitations speaks volumes about his determination and dedication, and his ability to find a way to win in most circumstances, not involving living legends who’ve mastered the craft that he’s fallen just short of the pinnacle of.
Last Updated on 09/19/2025
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