How Terence Crawford Pulled Off the Impossible in Mexican Independence Weekend Showdown
Terence Crawford stunned the boxing world by defeating Canelo Álvarez via unanimous decision to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion. Relive the rounds, stats, and drama of what seemed impossible.
Introduction
What seemed like an impossible matchup a few years ago delivered a surprising result for boxing fans during Mexican Independence weekend in Las Vegas. Terence Crawford, from Omaha, Nebraska, defied expectations and the odds by defeating Mexican superstar “Canelo” Álvarez by unanimous decision, claiming all the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF super-middleweight world titles. An announced crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium witnessed one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history. (AP News)
Judges scored the fight 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in favor of Crawford. (Reuters)
Table of Contents
- Pre-Fight Expectations & Background
- Round-by-Round Recap
- Tactical Breakdown: How Crawford Outboxed a Legend
- Key Statistics & Turning Points
- Post-Fight Reactions
- What This Means for Boxing, for Canelo, & for Crawford
1. Pre-Fight Expectations & Background
- Titles on the Line & Stakes: Canelo came into the fight holding all four major super-middleweight belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO). Terence Crawford moved up two weight classes to challenge for those titles. (RingMagazine.com)
- Public Perception & Odds: Many viewed Canelo as the clear favorite, given his dominance at 168 lbs. Some doubted whether Crawford’s speed and skill could carry him through, especially at a higher weight and considering the physical strength difference.
- Timing & Atmosphere: The fight was scheduled over Mexican Independence weekend, giving Canelo home-crowd energy, symbolism, and momentum. The venue, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, was packed with 70,482 spectators. (Reuters)
2. Round-by-Round Recap
Below is a more refined version of your round summaries, aligned with what latest reports, stats, and observers noted in each round.
| Round | What Happened | Winner (Analysis) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Terence Crawford uses movement early. Canelo charges, tries to land body shots. Crawford counters with combinations. Close, competitive. | Crawford — edged by activity, defensive sharpness. |
| Round 2 | Canelo lands several lefts to body. Crawford responds with multi-punch combos, mixing jab & counter. Close but slightly in Canelo’s favor due to body work. | Canelo (by a small margin) but still tight. |
| Round 3 | Crawford is cautious. His counter-attacks more successful. Canelo’s heavy hands less effective; the speed difference begins to show. | Crawford — taking over momentum. |
| Round 4 | Crawford gets more confident. Big lefts, good angles. Canelo starts missing more, looks slower. Ends with a decent right for Canelo but not enough. | Crawford — clearest round so far. |
| Round 5 | Crowd energy pushes Canelo forward. He lands body shots, shows urgency. Crawford maintains distance, but this round goes to Canelo. | Canelo — first clean round in several. |
| Round 6 | Crawford combinations, strong defense, avoids many of Canelo’s signature body punches. There’s a complaint of a low blow, but Crawford stays composed. | Crawford — regaining control. |
| Round 7 | Crawford’s speed advantage becomes more visible. Canelo struggles to cut off the ring. | Crawford — beginning to dominate overall. |
| Round 8 | Canelo tries to press but mostly hits Crawford’s guard. Crawford picks shots, uses ring craft. Crowd cheering Canelo, but performance tilting. | Crawford — more composed, more effective. |
| Round 9 | Best exchange round. Crawford trades and lands well; Canelo gets in a right. Accidental headbutt causes a cut but doesn’t shift momentum. | Crawford — strong finish to middle third. |
| Round 10 | Canelo appears more desperate. Crawford still elusive, landing combinations more often and avoiding the big punches. | Crawford — likely taking this. |
| Round 11 | Canelo shows frustration; misses big. Crawford presses more, lands telling blows. | Crawford — clear sibling advantage in execution. |
| Round 12 | Final round: Crawford finishes strong, combination work, speed, clean shots. Canelo tired, less effective. Crawford closes the show. | Crawford — wrap up dominant victory. |
3. Tactical Breakdown: Terence Crawford Out-boxed a Legend
To understand how Terence Crawford vs Canelo played out the way it did, we need to look at the tactics, strengths, weaknesses, and adjustments.
3.1 Movement, Footwork, and Ring Generalship
Crawford used excellent footwork to avoid getting tied up, cut off the ring, or trapped against ropes. This neutralized much of Canelo’s typical pressure game. Reports show that as the fight went on, Canelo’s attempts to corner Crawford were frustrated. (RingMagazine.com)
3.2 Counter-Punching & Speed vs Power
- Crawford’s speed, especially in jabs and combinations, helped him fire and retreat.
- When Canelo tried to land heavy shots, Crawford often responded with counters that did more damage overall. Even when power needed to be used, Crawford picked his moments.
- Body work by Canelo was consistent, but much of it was either blocked or absorbed without obvious damage. Crawford’s defense, especially early, was strong. (RingMagazine.com)
3.3 Adjustments Mid-Fight
- Crawford seemed to figure out Canelo’s rhythm and timing in the early rounds and then adjusted — choosing when to stay mobile, when to engage, when to clinch.
- Canelo tried to shift gears but often looked slower responding. The transition from defense to offense was less fluid than usual. (RingMagazine.com)
3.4 Physical Factor: Weight, Age, Conditioning
- Crawford moved up two weight classes — a big concern in terms of power and durability. But he carried the added weight well. His movement didn’t seem severely compromised. (RingMagazine.com)
- Canelo, though very experienced, may have been slowed by age and the wear and tear of long career. Observers noted in later rounds his output dropped and gas tank felt taxed.
4. Key Statistics & Turning Points
Here are the stats and moments that shaped the fight:
4.1 Scorecards & Judges
- Final scoring: 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 all for Crawford. (Reuters)
- Many viewers and analysts believe Crawford won 8-9 of 12 rounds. Even those who disagreed had trouble arguing that Canelo did enough to dominate.
4.2 Punch Stats & Compubox
- Unofficial CompuBox numbers: Crawford threw more punches overall and landed a higher percentage. For example: ~115 out of 534 for Crawford vs ~99 out of 338 for Canelo. (RingMagazine.com)
- Although Canelo landed more power punches in some rounds, the effectiveness was diluted by Crawford’s defensive movement and avoidance.
4.3 Turning Points
- Rounds 4 and 6: Crawford begins to assert control, landing left hands and combinations that visibly affect Canelo.
- Round 9: Exchange heavy; accidental headbutt adds drama. Crawford still comes out ahead.
- Championship rounds (10-12): Instead of Canelo closing strong, Crawford maintains pressure, accuracy, and stamina.
5. Post-Fight Reactions
5.1 What Crawford Said
- Craword called this a “signature win.” Moving up in weight, facing a legendary champion, and doing so in dominating fashion. (RingMagazine.com)
- He indicated he always believed he could win despite the skeptics. (The Guardian)
5.2 What Canelo & Others Said
- Canelo admitted he could not “figure out” Crawford’s style. He complimented Crawford’s all-around skillset. (MMAmania.com)
- There is broader respect from the boxing community: many hail this as one of Crawford’s greatest performances, and some are already putting it in discussions of all-time great upsets.
5.3 Legacy Conversations
- Many commentators are saying Crawford is now the first male boxer in the “four-belt era” to achieve undisputed champion status in three different weight classes. (Reuters)
- There’s buzz about what this means for Canelo’s future. Is there a rematch? Retirement? Another super-fight?
6. What This Means for Boxing, for Canelo, & for Crawford
6.1 For Crawford
- This victory elevates his standing in the pound-for-pound rankings and solidifies his claims to being one of the greats.
- Moving up two weight classes and winning in such fashion shows versatility, heart, and strategic brilliance.
- With a clean record (42-0 as of this fight, 31 KOs) and now undisputed titles in this class, his legacy is sealed. (RingMagazine.com)
6.2 For Canelo
- His aura of invincibility at super middleweight is challenged. He had been the measuring stick for many in 168 lbs.
- While this is a setback, many will remember his achievements; this loss might affect decisions about future opponents, training, or even weight class adjustments.
- Reactions suggest Canelo remains respected, but expectations in future fights will be even higher.
6.3 For Boxing & Fans
- Nights like this remind fans why match-ups matter: styles, strategy, risk, and preparation.
- This may open the door for more cross-division fights and give fighters the confidence to accept “impossible” challenges.
- Promoters and networks will likely see value in staging big, symbolic fights — especially those that generate narrative and draw big crowds (70,000+ here) and media attention.
Terence Crawford vs Canelo Álvarez will go down as one of those moments in boxing where expectations were upended. What seemed like a near-impossible matchup for Crawford—moving up weight, taking on a champion in full prime, in front of a partisan crowd—ended in a masterclass of skill, adjustment, and heart.
For Crawford, the win is more than the belts—it’s proof of what many believed in: that his boxing IQ, speed, adaptability, and grit are world-class. For Canelo, this fight may not define his career, but it adds a tough loss and a reminder that in boxing, every champion must be challenged.
In the end, the scores (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) reflect not just who landed more or who was more aggressive, but who controlled the fight when it mattered. Crawford did.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.