Terence Crawford made history on Saturday night by becoming the first male boxer to capture three unified division titles, defeating Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision.
The fight, held at Allegiant Stadium, drew a record crowd of 70,482, with Alvarez, the more established name, expected to dominate. However, Crawford, moving up two weight classes, proved his doubters wrong once again, winning before an initially hostile crowd.
Judges Tim Cheatham and Max DeLuca scored the bout 115-113 in favour of Crawford, while Steve Weisfeld gave him 116-112. The Associated Press scored the fight 118-110. The 37-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska, went down to one knee even before the decision was announced and wept after being named the winner.
“I know what I’m capable of,” Crawford said. “It’s not a surprise. It’s a surprise to y’all because you didn’t believe in me.”
Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) suffered his first defeat since losing to Dmitrii Bivol on 7 May 2022. The 35-year-old Mexican, the -185 favourite at BetMGM Sportsbook, acknowledged Crawford’s superiority. “We knew Crawford is a great fighter. I did what I was supposed to do. I trained really hard. He deserved all the credit. I tried my best tonight and I couldn’t figure out his style. He had everything,” Alvarez said.
The bout set multiple records. Allegiant Stadium hosted its first boxing match, surpassing its previous attendance record of 63,969 set on 1 September last year during a college football game. The fight also broke Las Vegas’ gate revenue record, generating $47.23 million, eclipsing the 29,214 spectators at Larry Holmes’ 1982 bout against Gerry Cooney.
The star-studded crowd included boxing legends Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Thomas Hearns and Julio Cesar Chavez, alongside celebrities Sofia Vergara, Michael J. Fox, Charlize Theron, Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan, and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith.
Broadcast on Netflix rather than pay-per-view, the fight reached a potentially larger audience, marking a shift in how major boxing events may be presented. UFC President Dana White collaborated with Riyadh Season for the card, reflecting a new streaming-first approach.
