Terence “Bud” Crawford has always been among boxing’s elite, but his victory over Saul “Canelo” Álvarez on September 13, 2025, pushed him into a rarified realm. Moving up two weight classes, Crawford delivered a performance that didn’t just win a title it made him the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three divisions.
Why this win matters
- Undisputed in three divisions: Crawford held undisputed titles at junior welterweight and welterweight, and he now added super middleweight to that list. That’s a historic first in modern male boxing under the current four-belt structure.
- Perfect record preserved: With this win, Crawford improved to 42-0, with 31 knockouts.
- Canelo’s legacy challenged: Álvarez was dominant at super middleweight, heavily favored, and boxing’s leading name. He now has three career losses, Crawford being one of them.
What people are saying
- Many analysts are now asking: Is Crawford the best boxer of his generation? This win over Canelo, by unanimous decision, has strengthened that case.
- Even Canelo acknowledged Crawford’s excellence, saying he is “much better than Mayweather” in some respects.
- Defector noted that Crawford and his team “set the bar” with not just results but how they approached everything, from the build-up, the risk of moving up in weight, to how Crawford demanded the fight and stuck to his convictions.
What this means moving forward
Crawford’s win changes the landscape:
- It challenges other top pound-for-pound names to respond, his legacy is now under a brighter spotlight than ever.
- It might reshape matchmaking. Fighters who could have avoided high risk, high reward fights may be more willing to take them. Fans expect bigger matchups.
- In terms of how greatness is measured, Crawford’s achievement forces comparisons with past legends. The question is not just “how dominant” but “how bold” and “how much boundary-pushing” one has done.
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