Background on Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez
Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, a renowned Mexican boxer, recently experienced his third career loss against American Terence Crawford in a super middleweight title defense. The 35-year-old has been a dominant force in boxing for over two decades, holding the unified super middleweight titles from November 2021 until this defeat.
The Fight and Its Aftermath
On the weekend, Canelo faced Terence Crawford in front of over 70,000 spectators at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Crawford emerged victorious with scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113. This loss marked the end of Canelo’s four-year reign as an undisputed champion in the super middleweight division.
Canelo accepted the defeat with grace, stating, “We learn from everything; we have to accept that both losses and victories teach us.” He acknowledged his body’s limitations, admitting that it didn’t respond as needed against Crawford’s power.
Crawford’s Background and Achievements
Terence Crawford, two years Canelo’s senior, entered the bout with an unblemished record of 42-0, including 31 knockouts. Standing at just four centimeters taller than Canelo, Crawford’s reach was 11 inches greater, contributing to his success.
Crawford has previously held undisputed titles in two weight classes: super lightweight (2017) and welterweight (2023). With this victory, he became the first boxer to achieve such a feat across three divisions, transitioning from 135 pounds to 168 pounds.
Canelo’s Future and Reflections
Following the loss, Canelo mentioned that he plans to take some time off and will consult with his team regarding future bouts. He expressed his desire to enjoy time with family before discussing his boxing future.
Crawford’s Confidence and Respect
Post-fight, Terence Crawford confidently declared himself the face of modern boxing. He praised his own skills, stating, “I am the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, as I have always been.”
Crawford showed respect to Canelo by returning his four super middleweight titles, as he will now hold those belts himself. The two fighters exchanged words and shared a firm handshake, concluding their encounter.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez? A prominent Mexican boxer with a 35-year career in professional boxing, Canelo has been a dominant force in the sport for over two decades.
- What was the outcome of Canelo’s fight against Terence Crawford? Canelo lost the match by unanimous decision, with scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.
- How did Canelo react to the loss? Canelo accepted the defeat with maturity, acknowledging his body’s limitations and emphasizing the importance of learning from both victories and losses.
- What are Terence Crawford’s achievements? Crawford, now 42-0 with 31 knockouts, has held undisputed titles in two weight classes and became the first boxer to achieve such a feat across three divisions.
- What are Canelo’s plans following the loss? Canelo intends to take some time off and consult with his team about future bouts.
