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| Date | September 13, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Allegiant Stadium,Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBA (Super),WBC,IBF,WBO,The Ring andTBRBundisputed super middleweight titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crawford wins via 12-roundunanimous decision (116–112, 115–113, 115–113) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford, billed asOnce In A Lifetime andThere Can Only Be One,[1] was asuper middleweightprofessional boxing match contested betweenundisputedsuper middleweight championCanelo Álvarez andfour division championTerence Crawford for the undisputed super middleweight championship of the world.
It was the firstZuffa Boxing event promoted byDana White underTKO.[2] The bout took place on September 13, 2025, atAllegiant Stadium inParadise, Nevada, U.S. (southwest of adjacentLas Vegas) and was streamed worldwide onNetflix. Additionally, Zuffa Boxing andTurki Al-Sheikh'sRing Magazine promoted two undercard events for the fight on September 10 and 11 at theFontainebleau Las Vegas.
In January 2025, it was reported that a bout betweenSaúl "Canelo" Álvarez andTerence Crawford had been agreed to be held in September 2025 in Las Vegas by Saudi promoterTurki Al-Sheikh.[3][4][5][6]
However, on February 6,Ring Magazine reported that Al-Sheikh suspended the bout after reports stated Álvarez was in negotiations to faceYouTuber-turned-boxerJake Paul in May.[7] Hours later it was reported that Álvarez and Paul were close to finalizing a May 3 bout atT-Mobile Arena.[8] Ultimately, Al-Sheikh announced that Álvarez had signed a 4-fight deal withRiyadh Season thus ending the negotiations with Paul and putting the Crawford bout back on track for September.[9]
On May 3, after Álvarez defeatedWilliam Scull to reclaim hisIBF super middleweight title, Crawford entered the ring and the two had a face off. Al-Sheikh later announced that the bout would take place on September 12 in conjunction withDana White's new Zuffa Boxing league underTKO. On June 10, the bout was officially announced to take place on September 13 and would be broadcast onNetflix.[10] On June 17,Allegiant Stadium was officially confirmed as the host venue.[11] It was later reported that to secure the fight date of September 13, an NCAAcollege football game between theUNLV Rebels and theIdaho State Bengals, which had been originally scheduled to take place on the same day as the fight at Allegiant Stadium, was rescheduled to August 23.[12] In addition, TKO agreed to pay $1.75 million alongside giving 100 tickets and a suite to UNLV's athletic department for the fight.[13]
In August, Zuffa Boxing's sister companyWWE and its Mexican subsidiaryLucha Libre AAA Worldwide announced theWorlds Collidewrestling event, which took place on September 12 in Las Vegas as a lead-in to the boxing match.[14] Prior to the Álvarez vs. Crawford fight, TKO also promotedUFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva, the third edition of theUFC's annual "Noche UFC"MMA event celebratingMexican culture, on September 13.[15] Worlds Collide, UFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva, and Álvarez vs. Crawford were all held as part ofMexican Independence Day weekend, a major weekend for Mexicancombat sports.[15][16]
On August 24, 2025, theWBA announced that Crawford would forfeit the light middleweight title at the start of the fight, withAbass Baraou being elevated to the position of full WBA champion, thereby maintaining the title's active status in that division.[17][18]
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".[19] This was later confirmed in September when Al-Sheikh and Zuffa Boxing announced the Álvarez vs. Crawford: Public Workout and The Underdog events for September 10 and 11, respectively.[20][21] Both events were held at theFontainebleau Las Vegas.
Following the fight announcement, Álvarez and Crawford went on a three-city press tour to promote the fight.[22] The first stop was inRiyadh on June 20, followed byNew York City on June 22 andLas Vegas on June 27.[23] At the kickoff presser in Riyadh, Turki Al-Sheikh, tired of what he calls "Tom & Jerry fights", announced aknockout bonus that will be implemented in future fights he promotes, starting with Álvarez vs. Crawford.[24]
Crawford responded to rumors concerning a shoulder injury during an event in Las Vegas, expressing skepticism about the speculation. He assured reporters that he was not injured and criticized the assertions regarding his fitness and speed. Crawford affirmed that he was at his natural weight and rejected claims that his physique would impact his performance.[25]
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. Additionally, the 'Performance of the Night' bonus to be given to a standout individual, allowing one fighter the opportunity to earn a total of $200,000 in bonus cash in addition to their purse.[26][27]
During fight week, betting odds for the fight significantly narrowed. Álvarez was slightly favored at minus-165, while Crawford stood at plus-135. Initially, Álvarez was over a 2–1 favorite when the bout was first announced.[25]
At the official weigh-ins, both fighters came in at 167.5 pounds (76.0 kg), the highest weight of Crawford's career.[28]
In addition to theWBA,WBC,IBF andWBO world titles,The Ring created an exclusive belt, which cost upwards of $188,000 to make, that would be awarded to the winner. According to Rick Reeno ofThe Ring magazine, it is "the most expensive belt ever created."[29] On September 2, 2025, the WBC officially presented theNahui Huey Altepemeh commemorative belt, which will also be on the line in this fight.[30] On September 10, the WBC unveiled the first-everWBC Crown Series Undisputed Championship ring.[31] Designed by Rasheen Farlow and created by Jason of Beverly Hills, the ring has almost 10 carats of stones set onto yellow gold with 8.5 carats of white diamonds and is valued at over $100,000.[32]
Considered two of the finest boxers of their era,[33] both fighters were ranked in the top ten of many pound-for-pound lists before the fight,[34] and this bout had a chance to determine who would be the next #1 pound-for-pound fighter and the best boxer of this generation.[35][36]
Álvarez is afour-division champion and two-time undisputed super middleweight champion, and has held championships from light middleweight throughlight heavyweight.[37] Prior to his fight with Crawford, he was the only boxer in history to hold the undisputed super middleweight title and was unbeaten at super middleweight.[38] With a victory, he would have added another future Hall of Famer to his already impressive resume.[39]
Crawford, a four-division champion himself, has held titles from lightweight through light middleweight and was the undisputed champion at light welterweight and welterweight.[37] With a victory, Crawford would make history as the first male boxer to become a three-division undisputed champion in the "four-belt era" and would become the first three-division undisputed champion sinceHenry Armstrong accomplished the feat in 1938.[40][41] He would also become the first boxer to holdThe Ring magazine belt in four different weight classes, one of only six male fighters in history to capturetitles in five divisions,[b][42] and one of just three to claim thelineal championship in four weight classes.[c][43]
Across a combined 765 rounds fought in their careers, neither fighter had ever been knocked down.[44][45]
On May 28, 2025, Crawford revealed that he would receive $10 million for this fight.[46] Most boxing insiders believe his claim is either false or represents just his guaranteed minimum. Reports suggest his actual total payout is closer to $50 million.[47][48] According toSI.com, Álvarez was expected to pocket up to $150 million, which included at least $80 million as part of his deal withRiyadh Season.[49]
On September 8, 2025,Dana White confirmed that Álvarez vs. Crawford is set to be the third biggest live gate in boxing history.[50] 70,482 people attended the event,[51] and set the venue's single-day live gate record by pulling in $47,231,887.[52] It had the largest attendance for an event held atAllegiant Stadium, breaking the record of 63,969 set for theLSU–USCcollege football game in September 2024,[52] and it shattered the previous record forLas Vegas boxing attendance when 29,214 fans attended the1982 fight betweenLarry Holmes andGerry Cooney,[53] while also ranking as the second-largest indoor boxing crowd in U.S. history.[54] Additionally, it drew over 41,400,000 viewers globally, making it the most viewed men's championship boxing fight of the 21st century.[55]
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. The boots feature a large folded tongue stamped with Álvarez's gold "CA" initials, a Mexican flag hangtag, AMIRI branding across the ankle, and an "MA" monogram on the heel honoring designerMike Amiri.[56][57]
Inspired by the filmDesperado, Crawford's fight-night attire was co-designed byEverlast,Off-White, and Bespoke Boxing. The kit featured blackvelvet and Duchessesatin with colors from Off-White's Spring/Summer 2026 runway, over 1,000 hand-appliedSwarovski crystals, and custom Everlast MX gloves and Elite boots. The shorts feature Crawford's last name on the waistband and the word "Omaha" across the back.[57][58]
On September 4, 2025, Netflix released "Countdown: Canelo vs. Crawford", a two-part docuseries offering a behind-the-scenes look at the fighters' training camps and personal lives.[59]
On September 8, 2025, theUFC premiered the first episode of its "Embedded" series onYouTube, offering fans a glimpse into the final preparations for the Álvarez vs. Crawford showdown.[60][61] The six-episode series concluded with the headliner and featured fighters making their final weight cuts for the official weigh-ins and facing off for the final time.[62]
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Play-by-play | Jon Anik |
| Fight analyst | Max Kellerman |
| Andre Ward | |
| Ring announcer | Michael Buffer |
| Joe Martinez | |
| Reporter | Heidi Androl |
| Jim Gray | |
| Coach's corner | Skipper Kelp |
| Desk host | Mario Lopez |
| Desk analyst | Mark Kriegel |
| Antonio Tarver | |
| Mike Coppinger | |
| Source:[63] | |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Referee | Thomas Taylor |
| Judges | Tim Cheatham |
| Steve Weisfeld | |
| Max DeLuca | |
| Source:[64] | |
Crawford, a naturalswitch-hitter, fought the entire contest from thesouthpaw stance and delivered a composed and tactically sharp performance to defeat Álvarez and becomeundisputed champion.[65] Although Álvarez entered as the naturally bigger man, his power never appeared to trouble Crawford, who absorbed Álvarez's hardest punches while dictating the fight's rhythm.[65]
The opening rounds were tightly contested. Álvarez attacked the body with his lefthook and disguised his shots with level changes, while Crawford established hisjab and countered effectively with straight lefts and short combinations.[66] 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. Álvarez carried the momentum into the fifth, his best round of the early fight, as he controlled distance and outworked Crawford from range.[67]
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.[68] Referee Thomas Taylor issued Álvarez a warning for a low blow with 1:20 to go in the sixth,[69] but no points were deducted.[70] From then on, Crawford controlled the tempo, mixing his jab and combinations with well-timed counters. Álvarez remained competitive, but the sharper and more telling shots came from Crawford, who grew increasingly confident in the pocket.[71]
Round nine brought high drama when a clash of heads opened a cut over Crawford's right eye, but he responded by landing a crisp early combination before engaging Álvarez in spirited exchanges, connecting with 33 punches versus 10 from Álvarez.[72][73] Though Álvarez had some success in the slower-paced tenth, Crawford reasserted control in the championship rounds, outlanding his opponent in the eleventh and trading freely in the twelfth without being troubled by Álvarez's power.[74]
After twelve rounds, thejudges returned aunanimous decision for Crawford, 116–112, 115–113 and 115–113.[75] According toCompuBox, Crawford outlanded Álvarez 115–99 in total punches and 45–16 in jabs, while Álvarez led 83–70 in power shots,[76] although those figures differ significantly from Jabbr.ai, which recorded Crawford landing 172 of 552 punches and Álvarez landing 68 of 338.[77]
| Judge | Fighter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total[78] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Weisfeld | Crawford | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 116 |
| Álvarez | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 112 | |
| Tim Cheatham | Crawford | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 115 |
| Álvarez | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 113 | |
| Max De Luca | Crawford | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 115 |
| Álvarez | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 113 |
| Weight class | vs | Method | Round | Time | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super middleweight | Bek Nurmaganbet | def. | Steven Sumpter | RTD | 3/10 | 3:00 | |
| Super middleweight | Brayan Leon | def. | Devontae McDonald | UD | 8 | ||
| Flyweight | Mikie Tallon | def. | Christian Robles | UD | 6 | ||
| Heavyweight | Yoandy Toirac | vs. | Skylar Lacy | SD | 6 | ||
| Light middleweight | Abdullah Darkazanly | def. | Kody Kobowski | TKO | 3/6 | 1:23 |
| Weight class | vs | Method | Round | Time | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flyweight | Anthony Olascuaga (c) | def. | Juan Carlos Camacho | TKO | 2/12 | 2:33 | Note 1 |
| Super featherweight | Justin Viloria | def. | Joshafat Ortiz | UD | 8 | ||
| Light middleweight | Jalil Hackett | def. | Elijah Vines | TKO | 3/8 | 0:33 | |
| Super bantamweight | Emiliano Alvarado | def. | Juan Garcia | MD | 6 | ||
| Cruiserweight | Jamar Talley | def. | Anthony Holloway | UD | 6 |
^Note 1 ForWBO flyweight title
| Weight class | vs | Method | Round | Time | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Card (Netflix) | |||||||
| Super middleweight | Terence Crawford | def. | Canelo Álvarez (c) | UD | 12 | Note 1 | |
| Light middleweight | Callum Walsh | def. | Fernando Vargas Jr. | UD | 10 | ||
| Super middleweight | Christian M'billi (ic) | vs. | Lester Martínez | SD | 10 | Note 2 | |
| Lightweight | Mohammed Alakel | def. | Travis Kent Crawford | UD | 10 | ||
| Prelims (YouTube) | |||||||
| Middleweight | Brandon Adams | def. | Serhii Bohachuk | UD | 10 | ||
| Heavyweight | Jermaine Franklin | def. | Ivan Dychko | UD | 10 | ||
| Super featherweight | Reito Tsutsumi | def. | Javier Martinez | TKO | 1/6 | 2:18 | |
| Light welterweight | Sultan Almohamed | def. | Martin Caraballo | UD | 4 | ||
| Light heavyweight | Raiko Santana | def. | Steven Nelson | TKO | 1/10 | 2:38 | |
| Super middleweight | Marco Verde | def. | Sona Akale | TKO | 4/6 | 1:11 | |
^Note 1 ForWBA (Super),WBC,IBF,WBO,The Ring andTBRBundisputed super middleweight titles
^Note 2 ForWBCinterim super middleweight title
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)| Preceded by | Canelo Álvarez's bouts September 13, 2025 | Succeeded by vs. TBA |
| Preceded by | Terence Crawford's bouts September 13, 2025 | Succeeded by vs. TBA |