Terence Crawford‘s victory over Canelo Alvarez on September 13 not only cemented him as the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be undisputed in three divisions, but also sparked intense debate in the boxing world. Although the official result was 115-113 on two cards and 116-112 on another, many experts believe that the fight was wider in favor of “Bud” than the judges reflected.
In the later rounds, Crawford set the pace with accurate counterattacks and strategic aggression that wore down an increasingly sluggish Canelo. For fans and analysts, the difference in the ring seemed much greater than the scant two points on two scorecards.
Authoritative voices such as Roy Jones Jr. and Andre Ward expressed their displeasure. Jones admitted that Canelo won some of the early rounds, but noted that Crawford controlled the second half, including the decisive championship rounds. In his opinion, the American was clearly the better fighter and the 115-113 scoreline belittled his dominance.
The shadow of the “Las Vegas bias”
Andre Ward took the discussion further, pointing out a recurring problem: the tendency of Las Vegas judges to favor the “money fighter” in close fights. According to Ward, Crawford understood this dynamic and that’s why he accelerated in the 11th round, avoiding a draw or even a controversial defeat. For him, if Bud had lost the last round, the result would have been completely different.
This debate divided opinion between those who question the closed cards and those who believe that the commercial pressure in Las Vegas always tips the balance towards the biggest box office star.
Crawford vs. Canelo was a historic fight in worldwide audience
Beyond the controversy, Crawford vs. Canelo broke viewership records and confirmed that boxing is still alive in the streaming era. According to Netflix, 41.4 million people watched the fight, making it the most watched men’s boxing fight this century. Of these, 36.6 million watched it live, with 24 million simultaneous streams in 30 countries.
Although it did not reach the viral numbers of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (108 million) or Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 (74 million), this fight was not an exhibition spectacle, but a real championship clash. Its success showed that when legacy and titles are at stake, boxing still attracts global crowds.
Crawford vs. Canelo achieves box office records and legacy
The Allegiant Stadium was also the scene of a historic milestone: 70,482 fans attended live, generating $47 million in ticket revenue, the highest figure at the venue and the third largest in boxing history.
Controversy or not, Crawford vs. Canelo will go down in history as a global spectacle that combined sporting legacy, fan passion and cultural impact that transcended the ropes.
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