LAS VEGAS —
Terence Crawford proved to be a complicated puzzle
Canelo Alvarez couldn’t solve.
The super middleweight king Alvarez
was dethroned Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium by a fellow pound-for-pound great in Crawford, who was stepping up two weight divisions for the monumental challenge.
Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) passed a test with many believing he couldn’t with flying colors.
During the buildup of the bout,
Alvarez insisted that Crawford’s style didn’t concern him because he’d faced every kind imaginable during his illustrious career.
However, Crawford did indeed present a style that left Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) befuddled.
“Everything [gave me trouble]. He has everything,” Alvarez said during his post-fight press conference. “We knew Crawford is a great fighter. I did what I was supposed to do, right? I tried for every way. I trained very hard. He deserves all the credit. I tried my best. I couldn't figure out the style.”
The perplexed Alvarez also alluded that he was physically unable to rise to the occasion against Crawford, who consistently demonstrated incredible hand speed, counter punching and elusiveness.
The more active Crawford threw 216 more punches (534) and outlanded Alvarez 115-99, per CompuBox. The ninth round was Crawford’s most impressive frame featuring several shoeshine attacks.
“Sometimes you try, and your body can't go,” said Alvarez. “That's my frustration. Maybe I can figure out Crawford, but my body can’t go anymore. I tried, but my body did not let me go. You need to accept it, that's it.
“I never thought that [this wasn't going to be my night during the fight]. I always tried. I tried in all of the rounds. I try, I try. You need to accept it, right? Sometimes you cannot go. I tried in all the rounds and I never thought about that. I cannot think that way. I tried my best.”
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan