The highly anticipated fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford took place on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This clash of titans had boxing fans worldwide on the edge of their seats, eager to witness what was dubbed by some as the "Fight of the Century". The event was streamed globally on Netflix, bringing the action to a massive audience.
The fight was not just about the two main protagonists; it was a mega-event that included a full undercard featuring rising stars and world title showdowns. Let's delve into the details of this historic boxing event.
Fight Announcement and Promotion
The bout was officially announced after Álvarez defeated William Scull on May 3, 2025, to reclaim his IBF super middleweight title. Crawford entered the ring, and the two faced off, setting the stage for the showdown. Turki Al-Sheikh announced that the fight would occur on September 12 in conjunction with Dana White's new Zuffa Boxing league under TKO.
Following the fight announcement, Álvarez and Crawford embarked on a three-city press tour to promote the fight. The tour kicked off in Riyadh on June 20, followed by New York City on June 22 and Las Vegas on June 27.
The Undercard and Additional Events
In July 2025, Turki Al-Sheikh announced that the undercard for the Álvarez vs. Crawford fight would likely take place across "two or three days". This was later confirmed in September when Al-Sheikh and Zuffa Boxing announced the Álvarez vs.
Read also: Potential Canelo Fight
Prior to the Álvarez vs. Crawford fight, TKO also promoted UFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva, the third edition of the UFC's annual "Noche UFC" MMA event celebrating Mexican culture, on September 13.
WWE and its Mexican subsidiary Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide announced the Worlds Collide wrestling event, which took place on September 12 in Las Vegas as a lead-in to the boxing match.
Bonuses and Betting Odds
At the kickoff presser in Riyadh, Turki Al-Sheikh, tired of what he calls "Tom & Jerry fights", announced a knockout bonus that would be implemented in future fights he promotes, starting with Álvarez vs. Dana White confirmed that Turki Alalshikh would present two sets of $100,000 bonuses on fight night. The 'Fight of the Night' bonus to be awarded to both participants, with each receiving $100,000.
During fight week, betting odds for the fight significantly narrowed. Álvarez was slightly favored at minus-165, while Crawford stood at plus-135.
The Ring Exclusive Belt
In addition to the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO world titles, The Ring created an exclusive belt, which cost upwards of $188,000 to make, that would be awarded to the winner.
Read also: Shop Canelo Alvarez Shirts
Fighter Preparations and Attire
Opting for designer over sportswear for the Netflix fight, Álvarez wore custom black-and-gold AMIRI boxing shoes. Styled like high-top sneakers, they combine mesh, nubuck, and leather with a custom sole engineered for grip, comfort, stability, and support.
Inspired by the film Desperado, Crawford's fight-night attire was co-designed by Everlast, Off-White, and Bespoke Boxing. The kit featured black velvet and Duchesse satin with colors from Off-White's Spring/Summer 2026 runway, over 1,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals, and custom Everlast MX gloves and Elite boots.
Media Coverage
On September 4, 2025, Netflix released "Countdown: Canelo vs. On September 8, 2025, the UFC premiered the first episode of its "Embedded" series on YouTube, offering fans a glimpse into the final preparations for the Álvarez vs.
Boxing Legends PREDICT Canelo Alvarez VS Terence Crawford
Fight Highlights and Key Moments
The opening rounds were tightly contested. Álvarez attacked the body with his left hook and disguised his shots with level changes, while Crawford established his jab and countered effectively with straight lefts and short combinations. The fourth round produced Álvarez's first significant success when he snapped Crawford's head back with a right hand, but Crawford took it well.
Read also: Alvarez vs. Berlanga: Fight Analysis
The sixth marked the turning point. Crawford stood his ground, landed effectively on the inside, and connected with a clean hook to Álvarez's chin that forced him backward. Referee Thomas Taylor issued Álvarez a warning for a low blow with 1:20 to go in the sixth, but no points were deducted.
From then on, Crawford controlled the tempo, mixing his jab and combinations with well-timed counters.
The Result
Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Álvarez by unanimous decision after 12 rounds to claim the undisputed super middleweight championship.
The judges scored the fight:
- 116-112
- 115-113
- 115-113
Fighter Reactions
Following the victory, Crawford declared himself "the new face of boxing," emphasizing what he viewed as a career-defining performance. In his post-fight interview, Crawford reflected on Álvarez's power and technique, stating, "He didn't hit as hard as I thought he was."
Álvarez echoed that assessment in his own remarks, acknowledging the difficulty he faced in solving Crawford's approach. "I tried my best tonight and I just could not figure out the style," he said, later adding, "Everything [he did gave me the most trouble]."
Aftermath
Prior to the fight, it had been announced that Álvarez was scheduled to return to the ring in February 2026. During an episode of Inside The Ring, however, Mike Coppinger reported that Álvarez required elbow surgery, pushing his projected comeback to at least the third quarter of 2026. Although he did not call for an immediate rematch in the aftermath of the bout, Álvarez stated in November 2025 that he intended to pursue a second fight with Crawford.
On December 3, the WBC stripped Crawford of their world title, claiming he had not paid $300,000 in sanctioning fees. It was described as "a slap in the face", by president Mauricio Sulaimán. Crawford responded with a video on Instagram, saying, "Boy, you've got to slap your fucking self," and adding, "The fucking real belt is the Ring belt, which is free, motherfucker. [What] you talking about?
Full Canelo vs. Crawford Main Fight Card
- Terence Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) defeated Canelo Álvarez (62-3-2, 39 KOs) by unanimous decision
- Callum Walsh (15-0, 11 KOs) defeated Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-1, 15 KOs) by unanimous decision
- Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) and Lester Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs) battled to a split draw
- Mohammed Alakel (5-0) defeated Travis Kent Crawford by unanimous decision
The Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight was a historic event that delivered excitement, drama, and a new champion. The event will be remembered for years to come, marking a significant moment in boxing history.