Crawford Humiliates Canelo: Is the Best Boxer of the Modern Era?

Terence Crawford: The Greatest of All Time?

It’s time to seriously debate Terence Crawford’s place in boxing history. After his recent victory, Crawford has proven to be an exceptional boxer. Crawford, at 37 years old, surpassed Canelo Álvarez, obtaining a unanimous decision victory and becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion. With this triumph, Crawford joins a select group as the first boxer in the four-belt era to achieve undisputed status in three weight categories (super lightweight, welterweight, and super middleweight). If Crawford were to retire after this performance, he would do so with a record of 42-0, with 31 knockouts, being a world champion in five divisions (undisputed in three) and with a victory over the considered face of boxing with relative ease. This performance was different from the one he had against Errol Spence Jr. in 2023, when he achieved a resounding victory. On this occasion, Crawford tactically outmaneuvered the Mexican superstar, leaving him stunned as the rounds progressed. While it could be compared to the one Floyd Mayweather gave Canelo in 2013, Saturday’s victory could be even more impressive. Crawford bewildered his opponent with agile footwork, a constant jab, dazzling punch combinations, and a solid jaw.

I think Crawford is much better than Floyd Mayweather.
Canelo Álvarez

If Mayweather is considered the best of his generation, what does this mean for Crawford? Certainly, he must be considered in the conversation after what he did against Canelo. The pride of Omaha, Nebraska, is the first boxer since Dingaan “The Rose” Thobela to win world titles at lightweight (135 pounds) and super middleweight (168 pounds) and has never had a judge give a fight to his opponent in his 17-year professional career. Mayweather did not achieve that feat despite retiring with a 50-0 record. However, this is not necessarily about comparing Crawford to Mayweather; it’s about comparing Crawford to all the elite boxers of his generation. First and foremost, he is a winner. Furthermore, he wins in diverse ways. He can deliver a violent beating, as he did against Spence, Amir Khan, and Jeff Horn, or he can outbox the opposition with his boxing, as he demonstrated against Canelo and Viktor Postol. There is not much he cannot do, and he demonstrated every facet of his game against Canelo. Nothing has stopped him: neither weight, nor age, nor skill. He is one of the best pound-for-pound boxers we have seen. Crawford didn’t say he would retire from boxing after Saturday, but he has very little left to prove. He has done it all and left few skeptics as to what he can do. Many thought he was at a disadvantage when he entered the ring amid boos from a mostly pro-Canelo crowd, and he left with four more belts while Canelo and his fans shook their heads.