Terence Crawford Next Fight: How to follow a perfect win over Canelo Alvarez

Terence Crawford beat Saul Canelo Alvarez via unanimous decision on Saturday, September 13. The victory saw ‘Bud’ jump two weight divisions to capture the undisputed super middleweight championship. It was a historic victory that saw the Nebraska boxer become the only male three-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

The accolades keep coming. Crawford went from part of a very elite pack to being the defining fighter of a generation overnight. But how do you top perfection? Read on as we delve into Terence Crawford’s next fight.

It is still early days when it comes to contextualising Crawford’s fistic ascension against Canelo. ‘Bud’ first held world titles at lightweight, lifting the WBO 135lbs belt from Ricky Burns, knocking out the then-unbeaten Yuriorkis Gamboa and snagging The Ring title against Ray Beltran.

Seven fights at super lightweight followed with seven wins and the undisputed championship to show for it. Welterweight was where Crawford went from an ‘if you know, you know’ curiosity to a clear boxing genius. Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and Amir Khan are just a sampling of the big name scalps Crawford claimed inside the distance.

The seven-round rout of Errol Spence Jr. in 2023 was a watershed. What was sold as a defining fight between the era’s two finest welters was a brutal procession. Crawford removed any doubt. The void that followed Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s retirements (one of which stuck) had been filled.

Every superhero needs that moment that makes them look human, before storming back to high-powered prominence for the third act. Israel Madrimov gave Crawford a very tough night last year. ‘Bud’ fought harder than he’d had to in a long time to take home the WBO interim and WBA super welterweight straps.

Given his struggles with a determined Madrimov, most thought that was where Crawford’s climb would end. Few expected the 37-year-old to pitch up at a weight 33lbs larger than where he had started. When it was confirmed that Crawford would do exactly that, against undisputed kingpin and global superstar Canelo no less, alarm bells started to ring.

Many accused Crawford of cashing out. With super welterweight and even middleweight carrying little in the way of money matches, some observers saw this fight as ‘Bud’ looking to make bank before hanging up the gloves.

But live on Netflix and in front of a record crowd at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Crawford did the unexpected. The unbelievable. Early on, he measured Canelo and picked his shots with elegant caution. Active, never reticent. Merely assessing what lay in front of him. Crawford often starts slow, but against Canelo he was a quick study.

The volleys became more frequent. Crawford’s time spent in the pocket ticked a little longer. Ones and twos gave way to threes and fours. Even when Alvarez forced the issue, Crawford was unafraid to take punishment to mete out his own. And Terence’s was just better. Sharper, more potent. Quicker. Canelo’s gameplan was to take Crawford into deep waters. Here was ‘Bud’ circling his man on a jetski.

A mammoth hook in the 12th round summed up the fight and will surely sit as its defining image. Canelo’s head turned so far he looks like he needs an exorcist. Crawford with a look of concentration with a glint of mischief. A fighter keenly aware he has just proven every single doubter of his ability wrong.

How do you top a night like that? A fight that did not simply put Crawford in the same breath as Mayweather and Leonard, but had passionate supporters arguing he was above them? The short answer is; you don’t. 

For the first time in one of these next fight pieces, I am going to advocate for retirement as the best option. Not because Crawford is a fighter whose skills are on the wane. We saw 36 minutes of pure testament to that. But because he is soon to turn 38, has a perfect 42-0 and every remaining feasible achievement comes with more risk than reward. Why not be one of the few that gets out with no questions left to answer?

Middleweight may be a gap on the CV that Crawford likes the idea of filling. The 160lbs belts are distributed as follows: Carlos Adames (WBC), Erislandy Lara (WBA) and Janibek Alimkhanuly (WBO and IBF). Solid pros but not one will set the box office alight. 

Alimkhanuly is a killer puncher so why risk it? Adames is a consummate technician who is hard to look good against. The Dominican deserved more than the draw he got against Hamzah Sheeraz. Lara debuted two months after Crawford in 2008 and is five years older at 42. Another awkward night and someone who would not transform the legacy of ‘Bud’.

Middleweight would be a box-ticking exercise and nothing more. Plus, cutting weight after competing in a higher division can be ruinous. Just ask fellow history boy Roy Jones Jr. He became the first former middleweight champion in a century to win a heavyweight title in 2003. After beating John Ruiz for the WBA belt he dropped back to light heavyweight and lost three of his next four. Jones went from the top of the world to a cautionary tale.

If dropping down is out of the question, what about a title defence in Crawford’s new division? The truth is, there are few names here that inspire much glee. Christian Mbilli’s undercard draw with Lester Martinez was supposed to anoint a new challenger. ‘Bud’ would get little shine for beating either of those. 

The rest of the division is a mixed bag. Canelo victims like Jaime Munguia and Caleb Plant. Rising Brits in Sheeraz and Callum Simpson. Unbeaten ‘who needs him?’ prospects like Osleys Iglesias and Diego Pacheco. Why risk becoming their stepping stone?

Of course, all these fights are possible. Crawford would not be drawn on the topic of retirement post-fight. The Omaha boy said he would take his time to ruminate over a decision. Boxers find it very hard to walk away, especially at the top. ‘Bud’ has the opportunity to leave the stage with dignity and with fans wanting more. There are no question marks. No ‘you should have fought…’ whataboutery. Put your feet up, Terence. You’ve earned it.

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