Terence Crawford Just Achieved Something No Male Boxer Has Ever Done in History
Las Vegas has seen its fair share of fight nights featuring undefeated records, fighters jumping weight classes, and dramatic knockouts. On September 13, 2025, something happened at Allegiant Stadium that nobody else in the four-belt era had ever pulled off.
Terence Crawford walked into the ring as an underdog. For years, critics, while acknowledging his brilliance, claimed he was too small to stand with the giants of higher divisions. They said moving up against a fighter as established as Canelo Alvarez was a gamble with no safety net. Instead of being overpowered, Crawford flipped the script and produced a performance that instantly joined the shortlist of boxing’s greatest nights.
A Shock to the System
Canelo had been unbeaten at super middleweight for more than half a decade, and Crawford was stepping into unfamiliar territory 33 pounds above where he first won gold in 2014. The numbers didn’t favor him, but as soon as the opening bell rang, Crawford showed he meant business.
He kept the jab working, controlled distance, and neutralized Canelo’s usual bursts of aggression. By the final rounds, frustration had set in for the Mexican superstar. The judges’ scores told the story: 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. Not a landslide, but a clear decision for the man who had defied the odds.
Beating Canelo wasn’t just another victory. Alvarez was boxing’s biggest name, a four-division champion who had headlined the sport for over a decade. Taking him down on such a massive stage wasn’t simply about belts. This was about seizing the crown of boxing’s current four-belt era.
No male boxer had ever managed what he just pulled off. He already held undisputed championships at super lightweight and welterweight. Now, he’s added super middleweight to the list. Three different divisions. Three full unifications. Zero defeats.
The audience of over 70,000 felt it too. Many had come expecting a Canelo showcase. By the time the final bell rang, the noise had shifted. Cheers mixed with gasps as they realized they were witnessing history in real time.
Boxing legends like Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired with pristine records but never unified multiple divisions. Manny Pacquiao claimed titles in eight weight classes, but never held all four belts in any one. Crawford’s path is unique. He is now universally recognized as the new pound-for-pound No. 1.
Where Does He Rank All-Time?
Now comes the inevitable debate. Is Crawford the greatest of all time? Boxing fans love their arguments, and his résumé gives them plenty of fuel. At 42-0 with 31 knockouts, he has a perfect record. He’s beaten names like Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, and now Canelo Alvarez. And he’s the only male boxer to unify three divisions in the four-belt era.
Compare that with Ali’s cultural dominance, Mayweather’s unbeaten streak, or Pacquiao’s record-setting eight titles. Each carved their place in history differently. Crawford’s achievement doesn’t erase theirs, but it adds a new, modern standard for greatness.
Crawford is 37, and retirement at this point would still leave his legacy untouchable. But rumors of a middleweight run or even a light heavyweight challenge linger. Few believe anyone else could replicate what he just did, yet somehow Crawford still gives the impression he’s not done. For now, though, boxing fans can savor the moment.