Shifting as much as tremendous middleweight for the primary time, Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) answered questions on dimension and energy, neutralizing Alvarez’s power with sharp footwork and exact counters whereas trying snug all through.
“I am not right here by coincidence,” Crawford mentioned following his win, via Sky Sports. “Canelo is a good champion. I’ve to take my hat off to him, he is a robust competitor and I’ve nothing however respect for him. He fought like a champion.”
Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs), lengthy the face of boxing, had his moments, notably within the center rounds, the place his physique photographs and uppercuts briefly shifted momentum. However too usually, the Mexican star discovered himself chasing shadows. Crawford’s jab disrupted Alvarez’s rhythm, whereas his lateral motion prevented the champion from pinning him down. Statistically, Crawford out-landed Alvarez 115 to 99 total, together with a decisive 45-16 edge in jabs.
“I am a winner for being right here,” Alvarez mentioned. “The actual fact I am right here makes me a winner. I take dangers and that is what I did.”
“I really feel nice to share the ring with nice fighters like him. If we do it once more then it will be nice. I already achieved loads in boxing. My legacy is already there and I like taking dangers as a result of I like boxing.”
The combat carried monumental significance past the consequence. Greater than 70,000 followers packed Allegiant Stadium, setting a brand new attendance report for Las Vegas boxing, whereas thousands and thousands extra tuned in globally on Netflix. The streaming big’s foray into reside fight sports activities marked one other shift in boxing’s broadcast panorama, bringing one of many yr’s greatest occasions immediately into households worldwide.
For Crawford, the victory provides to a resume already glittering with achievements. Having dominated at light-weight, mild welterweight and welterweight, his leap to 168 kilos and conquer one of many sport’s premier names pushes him firmly into pound-for-pound debates with legends of the previous.
Alvarez, in the meantime, faces questions on his subsequent step. Nonetheless solely 35, he stays a large draw and a formidable operator, however the loss underlined the wear and tear of practically 20 years on the elite stage. Whereas some speculate a couple of rematch, others counsel Alvarez could select to cut back.
Finally, Saturday evening belonged to Crawford. In silencing doubts about dimension and opposition, and in mastering probably the most adorned fighters of his technology, he delivered not only a victory, however a legacy-defining second that shall be remembered as one of many nice nights in boxing historical past.
