Crawford beats Canelo to take super middleweight title – as it happened

Our coverage of a thrilling boxing card is ending now.

Thanks for joining us as Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision to become the undisputed super middleweight champion.

Al Jazeera will be back soon with more live sporting action.

But for now, it’s goodbye from Patrick Keddie and Andrew Semple.

The most impressive thing about Crawford’s win was that he moved up two weight classes to beat Canelo, Antonio Tarver said.

“That is a rarity – I think he’s the only guy in the world that could have done that, with his skill set,” he said.

“You don’t find too many fighters jumping up and being successful like that.”

• Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez via 12-round unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113)
• Callum Walsh beat Fernando Vargas Jr via unanimous 10-round decision (99-91, 99-91, 100-90)
• Christian Mbilli drew with Lester Martinez over 10 rounds (97-93 Martinez, 96-94 Mbilli and 95-95)
• Mohammed Alakel beat Travis Crawford via unanimous 10-round decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92)

Crawford was always one or two steps ahead of Canelo, former light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver tells Netflix.

“Terence Crawford seemed like he was playing chess all night; he was one or two steps ahead of Canelo, with his combination punches,” he said.

“I wanted to see Canelo use his power and speed, but it was like he didn’t diversify his attack at all.

“Crawford was too smart, so when he got out in front, he cruised; he knew how to stay ahead.”

Boxing journalist Mark Kriegel says Canelo fought well but was outclassed by a better fighter.

“[Crawford has shown he is] as good as he imagines himself to be, he’s as good as he believed himself to be,” he told Netflix.

“This was a rebuke to promoters who didn’t promote him adequately, to promoters who didn’t furnish him with worthy opponents, for guys who didn’t want to fight him, for guys who doubted him – this was a very explicit rebuke across the whole distance of his career, going back to [attitudes towards his hometown of] Omaha. This was for everybody there.

“And he has used that chip on his shoulder, and now this is the crowning moment … He wasn’t the a-side tonight, he was the b-side … he was the older fighter, he was the naturally smaller fighter. So he did not just make history, he defied it.”

Former light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver tells Netflix that he had said before the fight that if Canelo let Crawford get into his groove, it was going to be “the matador and bull” type situation, which is how it transpired.

“Can Canelo come back and be the champion that he was? We don’t know, but there’s still a lot of great fights out there [for him],” he said.

“Crawford did what he said he was going to do, he fought strategically all night, he had focus – because one lapse and he could have been easily knocked out by Canelo.”

Andre Ward, a former undisputed super middleweight and light heavyweight champion, tells Netflix that the event lived up to its billing.

“Give both guys respect, they took the risk and a loss doesn’t mean that your legacy is tainted,” he said.

Canelo suggests he would be open to a rematch.

“I feel great to share the ring with a great fighter like him. If we do it again, it’s going to be great,” he says, speaking in English.

“But I already accomplished a lot in boxing, my legacy is already there, and I insist on taking risks cos I love boxing.”

Canelo says he still feels strong and undiminished as a fighter and instead pays tribute to Crawford’s skill.

He ends by shouting: “Viva Mexico cabrones!”

Canelo says he feels “great” despite the loss and then pays tribute to his supporters in Spanish.

“I’m a winner for being here. There was no defeat here – the fact that I’m here already makes me a winner,” he says through a translator.

“I’ve done everything in my career, I [always] take risks and that’s what I did.”

Crawford says he’s got to sit down with his team and think about his next move when asked if he might retire now.

He thanks all the supporters and “haters” for turning out in Las Vegas tonight.

“I’m happy that he gets to make it home to his children, I get to make it home to my children,” he said.

Crawford sank to his knees in joy as the judges awarded him the win. As he rises to his feet, he’s draped in multiple belts.

“I told you all I’m not here by coincidence, God blessed me and me made this event and this night just for me,” he says in the ring.

He pays tribute to Canelo as a “great champion”.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Canelo. I’m a big fan of Canelo, and he fought like a champion today.

AND THE NEW….

TERENCE CRAWFORD DEFEATS CANELO ÁLVAREZ #CaneloCrawford pic.twitter.com/YoAsMvVber

— Netflix (@netflix) September 14, 2025

The judges give it to Crawford 116-112, 115-113, 115-113.

He has moved up two weight classes and beaten the great Canelo Alvarez to book his place in the pantheon of all-time greats.

The final round, and both men touch gloves in a mark of respect, before embarking on a firefight.

Canelo throws some brutal shots, which Crawford takes on the gloves.

Crawford fires back a back left counter to a Canelo attack, but this time the Mexican shakes his head as he steps to the side.

Canelo barrels in again and again, looking for a knockout, but Crawford is standing his ground well, though.

Into the last minute, the crowd volume ratchets up as they exchange flurries of shots.

Crawford knocks Canelo off balance with a big left; he staggers backwards and then renews his offensive.

In the last 10 seconds, it’s Crawford that lands the better shots – a solid left and a strong jab.

Both men raise their hands as the bell goes, but we will go to the judges to get the decision.

Two rounds left, and Canelo may well need a stoppage here – he starts with a beautiful body shot.

Crawford immediately responds with a forceful uppercut. He’s been able to respond and more when Canelo attacks, and he wins another exchange that began with a Canelo attack and ended with a flurry of Crawford punches to the Mexican’s head.

Canelo lands a big right to Crawford’s jaw, the biggest test of his chin so far, and he takes it.

Another big straight right hand from Canelo gets through; he’s had a good round.

Crawford dances along the ropes and fires back whenever Canelo presses.

Canelo’s corner warns him he has only three rounds left as they demand more from their fight. Crawford’s corner thinks he’s up, but they know Canelo remains dangerous.

Canelo throws a good left, but Crawford answers with his smart left. Then the Mexican looks for a big overhand left, but Crawford sees it all day long and blocks, then throws a looping left, which Canelo evades.

Crawford continues getting off some slick three-punch combos, usually off the jab.

Meanwhile, Canelo lands some more hooks to the body.

Crawford presses forward on a foray and breaks Canelo’s guard with some straight shots.

Canelo looked for a fist bump at the end of the round, but Crawford did not oblige.

Both start the round trading furious action in the centre of the ring, and the crowd roars its approval. Crawford stands his ground again and lands a solid left hook to the jaw.

The two men come together in the clinch on the ropes, and the action is paused as Crawford appears to have a cut from an accidental headbutt.

He’s OK to continue, and both men resume throwing bombs, looking for a knockout.

Crawford stings Canelo with a big left, and then the pace lulls a little.

Crawford is boxing better; he again shakes his head sadly at a Canelo attack.

Crawford’s corner warns him not to be too gung-ho and against getting into a firefight with Canelo. They think the Mexican will get desperate and will leave himself open to a big counter if Crawford “keeps boxing”.

Crawford unleashes some rapid-fire punches to Canelo’s gut, but the Mexican crashes a right into his chest as a riposte.

The Mexican is back to looking for knockout shots, but Crawford is landing more combos.

Crawford is shaking his head at the punches from Canelo that he disdains and nodding when the Mexican lands a good shot.

Canelo feints, dips, bobs, but can’t find a big telling shot at the end of the round.

Crawford refuses to back up as he probes with jabs and then looks for bigger shots. He looks to be getting the better of a lot of these exchanges now.

Canelo does finally manage to walk Crawford back a bit, but the slippery American is looking comfortable.

Crawford is throwing two, three jabs at a time before exploding into combinations.

Just as Canelo looks to have cornered him, Crawford fires back with spite and gets himself out of trouble.

As the bell goes, Crawford gives Canelo a slightly withering look.

Crawford comes out with more aggression, peppering shots into Canelo’s body. Then he catches the Mexican’s left eye with a big straight countering left from the ropes as Canelo comes in, and then pokes his tongue out in glee.

The left side of Canelo’s face is marked up now.

Crawford looks to counter every Canelo attack with spite now, then goes on the offensive himself – catching the Mexican with a hard left to the body.

Crawford grinned after landing that shot and looks like he’s enjoying this round.

Crawford continues to fight out of the southpaw stance.

Canelo is happy to spend a bit of time boxing from the outside, perhaps luring Crawford in.

The Mexican then launches an attack, just missing with a couple of big rights; then he almost catches Crawford with a sweeping long left.

Crawford arrests another attack with a stiff jab and looks to get on the front foot.

Canelo lands another left hook to the body, then follows it up with a stiff jab to the gut moments later.