Canelo vs. Crawford: An Epic Encounter in the Ring
On September 13th, two of today’s most prominent boxers, Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford, will face each other in a fight that will define who is the best pound for pound. After six years of competing for the top spot in the rankings, this fight promises to be a milestone in boxing history.
Crawford, current WBA champion in the super welterweight category, will move up two weight categories to challenge Canelo, the highest-earning boxer in the last decade. Despite Canelo’s media appeal, Crawford comes to the ring with a higher position in the pound-for-pound ranking.
However, Crawford has been less active, with only one fight per year since 2020. His most recent fight was a decision victory over Israil Madrimov in August 2024.
If Crawford, 37, manages to defeat Canelo, 35, he would become the only boxer in the four-belt era to be undisputed champion in three weight categories, solidifying his status as one of the best pound for pound. For Canelo (63-3-3, 39 KOs), who had a less outstanding performance in his recent decision victory over William Scull in May, a victory over Crawford could boost him from his current number 8 position.
Detailed Analysis of Canelo and Crawford’s Trajectories
Here, we explore the best performances, the most impactful knockouts, the most dominant fights, the moments of greatest difficulty, and the most significant matches of both boxers.
Best Performance by Canelo: Unanimous Decision Victory against Gennadiy Golovkin
Date: September 17, 2022 Place: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
The third fight of the trilogy against Golovkin, four years after their second encounter, was not as exciting as the first two, but Canelo’s victory over GGG is remembered as his most significant triumph. With this victory, Canelo closed the trilogy and maintained his undisputed super middleweight crown with scorecards of 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112.
“Everyone knows this is high quality. He’s the best boxer in boxing. Everyone knows who Canelo is,” Golovkin said after the fight. “This fight is more tactical. Today, Canelo is better. Congratulations to Canelo.”
Gennadiy Golovkin
This victory ended the controversies of a draw in 2017 and a majority decision in favor of Canelo in 2018 in their first two encounters.
Crawford’s Best Performance: TKO in the Ninth Round against Errol Spence Jr.
Date: July 29, 2023 Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Crawford delivered a masterclass, knocking down his biggest rival three times and achieving a technical knockout victory in the ninth round. Despite Spence having cataract surgery six months later, Crawford’s performance was exceptional. With his counter-punching, Crawford outboxed Spence and sent him to the canvas in the second round with a left-right combination, and then again with a right hand in the seventh. Crawford bombarded Spence with unanswered punches until the fight was stopped.
Crawford’s knockout victories over Kell Brook and Shawn Porter increased his reputation to its highest point with the victory over Spence, becoming undisputed welterweight champion. This was Crawford’s only mega-fight before his match against Canelo, compared to the eight that Canelo has had.
In 2023, Crawford started and ended the year as the number 1 pound-for-pound boxer, solidifying his place with speed, intelligence, and defense.
Canelo’s Best KO: KO in the Eleventh Round against Sergey Kovalev
Date: November 2, 2019 Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Canelo, with this moment, connected a left hook in the eleventh round, then sent him to the canvas with a right hand, leaving Kovalev on the ropes. What makes this victory even more impressive is that Canelo moved up two weight classes to achieve his best knockout against a renowned puncher and light heavyweight world champion. Alvarez, then middleweight champion, went up 15 pounds to win the WBO light heavyweight belt.
Considering the opponent, this brilliant knockout was superior to those achieved against James Kirkland, Amir Khan, Caleb Plant, and Liam Smith.
This historic victory also made Canelo, at 29, a world champion in a fourth weight category, matching Mexican legends Juan Manuel Márquez, Erik “Terrible” Morales and Jorge “Travieso” Arce.
Crawford’s Best KO: TKO in the Ninth Round against Yuriorkis Gamboa
Date: June 28, 2014 Location: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska
In his first defense of the world title, Crawford stopped Gamboa in the ninth round. Gamboa was knocked down four times in total, but it was not an easy fight for Crawford. The Cuban boxer, winner of the Olympic gold medal in 2004, showed courage and aggression, making this an intense fight. Crawford connected a right uppercut that knocked out Gamboa.
Canelo’s Most Important Fight: Split Draw against Gennadiy Golovkin
Date: September 16, 2017 Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Although this fight generated criticism for Canelo, it propelled him to achieve better performances and knockouts. The controversial split draw was the motivation Canelo needed to win two more fights against Golovkin and conquer two more weight categories.
The three Canelo vs. Golovkin fights are among the most important of his career, as Canelo overcame one of the best middleweight champions in boxing history and responded to criticism.
In the first fight, Canelo didn’t engage enough for it to be a classic, and Golovkin didn’t land the clean punches that had knocked out 33 of his previous 37 professional opponents. Alvarez tried to counter Golovkin, who was the aggressor and the most active.
Canelo was affected by the public’s reaction, which included boos after the announcement of the draw. This led him to improve his game in the rematch a year later, obtaining scores of 115-113 twice, with a third score of 114-114.
Crawford’s Most Important Fight: Unanimous Decision Victory against Ricky Burns
Date: March 1, 2014 Location: SEC Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
Crawford arrived in Glasgow to challenge local hero Burns for the WBO lightweight title. Crawford dominated from the fourth round and won with cards of 116-112, 117-111 and 116-112, while Burns suffered his first defeat in 10 world title fights in front of 10,000 fans. Crawford was superior to Burns and secured a victory that would boost a career in which he has won world titles in four weight classes.
This was the fight that launched him to the top. Crawford was composed and elegant throughout the bout, proving too fast and skillful for Burns, in Crawford’s only professional fight outside the United States, and in his first 12-round fight.
“You can see why he’s considered the next big star in the United States; the better man won that night,” Burns said afterwards. “He was always in and out. I overextended and he caught me with counter-punches.”
Ricky Burns
Canelo’s Most Dominant Victory: TKO in the Eighth Round Against Billy Joe Saunders
Date: May 8, 2021 Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Canelo earned the top spot in the ranking when he gave Saunders a beating in a super middleweight title unification fight. A right uppercut in the eighth round closed Saunders’ right eye and caused enough damage for his corner to stop the fight before the ninth round.
Alvarez enjoyed the eighth round, saluting the fans in the crowd of 73,126 (an indoor boxing event record) while inflicting damage that required Saunders to undergo surgery to repair a fracture in his right orbital bone. At the time of the stoppage, Saunders was down 78-74, 77-75 and 78-74 on the scorecards. This victory saw Alvarez add the WBO title to his WBC and WBA super-middleweight belts.
Crawford’s Most Dominant Victory: TKO in the Sixth Round Against Amir Khan
Date: April 20, 2019 Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
Crawford’s victory over Khan stands out because he dominated a boxer with faster hands and movements. Crawford dominated from the first round, sending Khan to the canvas in the first round. Crawford delivered a beating in the following rounds, and when Khan received an intentional low blow from Crawford in the sixth round, his corner rescued him from further punishment. Crawford was leading on the scorecards 49-45, 50-44, and 49-45 at the time of the stoppage.
It was a one-sided victory and showed Crawford at his best. The first knockdown began with a counter right hand, as Crawford combined power, speed, and intelligence in the ring, reading Khan’s jab. Crawford baffled Khan by switching stances, and his accuracy allowed him to land twice as many punches (88 to 44, according to CompuBox).
After finishing Khan in six rounds, Crawford equaled the feats of Alvarez, who had also defeated Kahn in six rounds three years earlier.
Canelo’s Most Disappointing Performance: Unanimous Decision Victory against William Scull
Date: May 3, 2025 Location: ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Canelo’s most disappointing performance was in a fight he comfortably won earlier this year. His most recent outing was an anticlimactic victory that earned him widespread criticism. It was a snooze-fest, as Alvarez cruised to a unanimous decision victory over Scull. He threw only 152 punches, the second fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox history.
Instead of being evidence of Alvarez’s decline, he was probably just doing enough to get past the fight with Crawford, whom he met face to face in the ring moments after dealing with Scull.
Crawford’s Most Disappointing Performance: Unanimous Decision Victory against Israil Madrimov
Date: August 3, 2024 Location: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
In a tactical chess match, Crawford earned unanimous scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 to become a four-division champion. Despite the victory, Crawford sounded disappointed afterward.
“I’m not going to lie,” Crawford said. “He’s strong… he took me to the 12th round… This guy is big. He was disciplined. He didn’t come in throwing wild punches like I intended.”
Terence Crawford
It was the first time Crawford went the distance since Viktor Postol took him 12 rounds in July 2016. Crawford’s defense will be crucial when he faces Alvarez.
