On September 13, History Won’t Just Be Written,It Will Be Fought For: Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Álvarez

Terence Crawford: On September 13, the boxing world will witness a night destined to echo through the ages. Two of the sport’s most dominant forces, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford, will step into the ring under the lights of Las Vegas, not just to defend belts or reputations, but to carve their names into the deepest chapters of boxing history.

This isn’t just another championship fight—it’s a collision of eras, styles, and legacies. It’s a night where history won’t be written on paper, but fought with fists, grit, and heart.

A Clash of Pound-for-Pound Legends

For years, debates have raged in barbershops, gyms, and sports studios: Who is truly the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? On September 13, fans may finally get their answer.

• Canelo Álvarez enters as the undisputed super middleweight champion, holding the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF belts. Known as Mexico’s greatest active warrior, Canelo has faced and conquered names like Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, and Sergey Kovalev. His blend of brutal power, slick defense, and relentless body shots make him one of the sport’s deadliest technicians.
• Terence Crawford, on the other hand, is the definition of “unbeaten excellence.” Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford carries a pristine record, dismantling every opponent put in front of him. After dominating at lightweight and junior welterweight, he cemented his legend by becoming undisputed welterweight champion, with his masterful destruction of Errol Spence Jr. proving he is a generational talent.

Now, the two collide at 168 pounds, in what many already call the biggest fight in modern boxing history.

The Stage: Las Vegas, Netflix, and Mexico’s Pride

The fight will unfold at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders—a modern coliseum built for nights like this. For the first time, a fight of this magnitude will stream on Netflix, ensuring millions worldwide can tune in live to watch history unfold.

Canelo will also have timing on his side. Fighting on the eve of Mexico’s Independence Day, he will carry the roar of an entire nation in his corner. As tradition dictates, when Canelo fights in September, it becomes more than a sporting event—it becomes a patriotic spectacle.

The War of Words

Critics have questioned whether Canelo remains the absolute king of his division, pointing out past struggles against slicker fighters. But the Mexican champion has dismissed all doubts with fire in his voice:

“I don’t give a damn. I know I’m the best. To have a great fight, it takes two fighters—and September 13, you’ll see.”

Crawford, calm but lethal in tone, has made his intentions clear: he isn’t coming just to fight—he’s coming to conquer. For him, moving up to face Canelo isn’t a gamble; it’s destiny.

More Than Belts: The Tlaxcala II Commemorative Belt

Adding to the drama, the Tlaxcala II Commemorative Belt will also be on the line. Handcrafted by Mexican artisans, it was unveiled by WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán as a cultural gift to the sport. While gold and glory will dominate the headlines, this belt represents something deeper—Mexico’s pride, artistry, and unshakable connection to boxing.

Why This Fight Is Different

Boxing has seen many superfights—Ali vs. Frazier, Leonard vs. Hearns, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. But Canelo vs. Crawford feels different.

It’s not just champion vs. champion. It’s the most successful fighter of this era versus the most dangerous technician alive today. It’s a battle of power against precision, of size against skill, of one legend trying to defend his throne while another seeks to snatch it in a blaze of glory.

What’s at Stake

For Canelo, victory would silence critics and cement him as the undisputed face of modern boxing. For Crawford, a win would be seismic—moving up two divisions to topple Mexico’s greatest champion would etch his name alongside the immortals.

Defeat, for either man, would not just be a loss—it would be a wound to their legacy.

The Final Bell

On September 13, when the arena darkens and the lights shine on two warriors walking toward destiny, the world will know: this is more than a fight—it is a defining moment for boxing.

As gloves are touched and the first bell rings, history won’t just be recorded in the pages of a book—it will be written with blood, sweat, and courage inside the squared circle.

Canelo vs. Crawford isn’t a fight to watch. It’s a fight to remember.

Terence Crawford’s Newfound Power And Its Impact On His Challenge Against Canelo Alvarez

Terence Crawford’s sparring partner, Steven Nelson, says his power has increased with the size that he’s packed on for his fight against Canelo Alvarez on September 13th. He states that Crawford’s ability, hand speed, and movement are just as good as before he bulked up. The only thing that’s changed is his power.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) will challenge Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) for his undisputed super middleweight championship on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It’s a big two-weight jump for Crawford, going up from 154 to 168 to try to dethrone Alvarez.

Crawford’s Newfound Power

“Bud is going to do something that nobody ever expected. A lot of the doubters are going to be like, ‘damn,’ but they’ll come up with excuses like always,” said Steven Nelson to Fight hype about his prediction for Terence Crawford defeating Canelo Alvarez.

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There are many fans who are picking Crawford to win. So, it won’t be unexpected if he defeats Canelo on September 13th. It’s still a tall order. Canelo can be outworked, but due to his power, he still wins rounds because his shots are harder. T

hat’s the problem Crawford has. I don’t believe his power is on the level of Canelo’s last opponent, William Scull, nor his hand speed or combination punching ability. Alvarez still beat him by a 12-round unanimous decision despite throwing only 152 punches in the entire fight. “Now, I feel it’s different,” said Nelson when asked if Crawford’s power has increased with the muscle he’s put on. “Now, he has the power. He’s always had power, but now, it’s a different power,” said Nelson. “He still has the speed, movement, and ability. It’s crazy. Ain’t nothing changed, man. They’re going to see. I wish it were September [13] tomorrow.”

Power On The Lower End

Crawford had power at 135, 140, and 147. He was more of a combination puncher in those weight classes. That’s how he got his knockouts. At 154, Crawford’s shots weren’t on the level of the more powerful fighters in the division. In my opinion, his power was on the lower end of the spectrum, similar to that of Xander Zayas and Josh Kelly.

“Everybody is going to see. It’s going to be groundbreaking. It’s going to be something like a spaceship landing on Earth. People don’t know until they get in the ring. Like Errol said, ‘Bud’s power is real.’ That’s what makes people great. They always do something that people don’t expect,” said Nelson. Crawford’s power wasn’t “groundbreaking” in his last fight, moving up from 147 to 154 to battle WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024.

The fight showed that Terence’s strength hadn’t increased. He’d moved up, but his power appeared to be on the level of a welterweight. Now, Nelson is saying that Crawford’s power is “different.” What are we to believe? Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson didn’t see anything impressive in Crawford’s performance against Madrimov. “You gotta look good in order to not mess up your next fight. You fight this guy and you get your ass beat up,” said Tyson to Sports Illustrated.”

Fans would jump on board the Crawford bandwagon if he’d moved up to super middleweight in the last 13 months and beaten a couple of the top contenders. With Crawford choosing just to sit for an entire year, what does he expect people to think? He’s chosen not to take any risks and just wait for his super-fight against Canelo.

Red Flag Against Canelo vs. Crawford Judge Sparks National Boxing Commission Demand

The highly anticipated showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford is now just ten days away, set to take place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and streamed live on Netflix. Ahead of the historic clash, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has finalized the officials for the night. Judges Tim Cheatham, Max DeLuca, and Steve Weisfeld will be ringside, while veteran referee Tom Taylor has been assigned as the third man in the ring.

On a recent episode of his ‘THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas’ podcast, the 69-year-old renowned trainer raised serious concerns, particularly about Tim Cheatham’s record as a judge. Notably, Cheatham has scored three of Canelo’s past fights, including bouts against Billy Joe Saunders, Dmitry Bivol, and Jaime Munguia. Atlas went on to scrutinize Cheatham’s track record and shed light on what he described as the darker side of boxing politics.

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Canelo Alvarez Will Be Happy With Cheatham, Says Teddy Atlas

Atlas claimed that if there were two judges he would want thoroughly investigated, “I would say… it might be a good place to start with… [David] Sutherland and… Cheatham.” Cheatham recently came under scrutiny for his scoring in the Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora fight. He scored it 116-112 for Tszyu, even though Fundora appeared to dominate the bout. The other two judges scored it 115-113 and 116-113 in Fundora’s favor. Highlighting this, Atlas’ co-host pressed him on whether such officials should even be allowed to participate in high-profile fights.

Atlas explained that as the manager or promoter of a fighter, “you can’t say who you want, but you can say who you don’t want.” He noted that commissions ultimately decide which judges are assigned, depending on whether it’s a title or non-title fight. He criticized them for not having “a rotating system enough. It’s always the same guys… in the same locales.” According to Atlas, this breeds unhealthy familiarity between judges and promoters.

“[Promoters] wind up having a familiarity and relationship with the judges,” Atlas claimed. He advised commissions, “I think that you can help a lot by rotating and getting new blood in there,” to prevent close ties from forming. Atlas even alleged that promoters and judges “go out to dinner” together. Since promoters are the ones paying judges, he warned, “If those [judges] aren’t getting the decisions that [the promoters] want… you’ll be one of the [judges] that ain’t working. So we need a National Commission.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming fight, Atlas stated, “If I’m with Canelo, I think I’m happy with Cheatham. But if I’m with Crawford… I’m saying, ‘Wait a minute, hold on.’” Cheatham had Canelo Alvarez winning five rounds in a fight many observers believed Bivol controlled, losing no more than four rounds at best. Another judge that night, Steve Weisfeld, who will also be officiating the Canelo-Crawford bout, scored the fight identically.

“I’ve more singled out Tim Cheatham because of his inconsistencies.” Atlas’ co-host said during the podcast. But the lingering question remains: what recourse does Crawford’s team really have if they want the judging panel changed to ensure fairness?

Could Terence Crawford Do This in Response?

The co-host of the show pressed Atlas about the options Crawford has if he wants to make a change. “You’re telling the manager, really, for the most part,” Atlas explained. “You can put in for rejecting somebody and hope that you get your way.” The veteran trainer shared that he has no idea what Crawford’s team is doing since the officials were announced.

Still, he claimed that if he were in Terence Crawford’s team, the judges’ panel for the fight would worry him. “If I’m with Crawford, I’m thinking Jesus. This is a guy who had it real close with Canelo-Bivol,” he said. As for how Atlas saw the Canelo-Bivol fight, “I had Bivol winning 11 rounds… even if you said 10, you’d be kind of generous.”

Teddy Atlas has sounded alarm bells after the officials for the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight on Netflix were revealed. However, whether Crawford decides to get the panel changed is yet to be seen.

Canelo Alvarez sends message to Terence Crawford: “It takes two for a good fight”

In the run-up to the showdown between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford, the Mexican boxer spoke to a national sports media outlet, praising the fight that will take place on September 13. Both fighters will face each other for the unified super middleweight title, at 168 pounds (76.2 kilograms).

The fight will take place at the Raiders’ home in Las Vegas and will be broadcast by Netflix streaming service for the United States. Canelo holds the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) world titles.

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“I feel like I’m the best” – Canelo Alvarez ahead of fight with Terence Crawford

During the interview with Central Fox, the Guadalajara fighter said that, for him, the fight against Terence Crawford will be the biggest in the history of boxing because “everyone is going to watch it”. Canelo will fight the American on the eve of Mexico’s Independence Day, so the crowd will be on his side.

However, not all boxing analysts are on Alvarez’s side, as some claim that he is not the best in his weight class. To this he replied: “(…) I don’t give a damn. I feel I’m the best… and that’s it, I don’t focus on what people say. To have a good fight, it takes both boxers,” he said.

The Tlaxcala II Belt is presented to the winner between Canelo and Crawford

A beautiful handcrafted work is what Saul Alvarez and Terence Crawford will fight for on September 13 in Las Vegas, as the Tlaxcala II Commemorative Belt will also be at stake. It was presented this afternoon, with the presence of the president of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaiman.

The handicraft, said the boxing leader, is a gift from Mexico to the world of boxing and will be part of one of the most important cards of this year with the return of Canelo Alvarez to Las Vegas against an undefeated rival. Considered, like the Mexican, as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters today.