Terence Crawford returned to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, this weekend to celebrate his recent and disputed victory over Canelo Alvarez with a big parade. The undisputed super middleweight champion proudly paraded, displaying his trophy: a stunning $188,000 gold Ring belt.
The belt, which Crawford keeps as a personal memento regardless of his future titles, symbolizes the conquest of one of boxing’s most anticipated fights.
A millionaire belt, but a questionable one
Despite the celebration and value of the belt, Crawford’s victory has been the subject of intense criticism from some fans and analysts. Detractors argue that the expensive trophy is “superficial” and that the victory itself is “meaningless.”
The controversy centers on Canelo Alvarez, who is seen as a “declining” boxer who had avoided the more dangerous contenders.
Is Crawford’s victory over Canelo in doubt?
The controversy is further fueled by the fight itself. Although Crawford won by unanimous decision, many observers described it as an “extremely close” fight.
According to analysis by experts and fans on social media, Crawford was inactive in the first eight rounds, outclassed by a more aggressive Canelo and only managed to secure victory in the last four rounds. The performance was labeled “mediocre” by critics, who argue that Crawford looked in “poor shape” and barely superior to Canelo.
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