If you were sitting in Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2025, you felt it. That weird, heavy silence that took over Las Vegas when the scorecards were finally read. Most people walked in expecting the usual Saul "Canelo" Alvarez masterclass. Instead, they watched Terence "Bud" Crawford do the impossible.
He didn't just win. He took the throne.
The biggest question of the year—canelo fight who won 2025—ended with a name that half the critics said was too small to survive the night. Terence Crawford won a 12-round unanimous decision that effectively ended the Canelo era. The judges saw it 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113. Honestly, it felt a little wider than that from the press row.
What Really Happened in the Canelo Fight Who Won 2025
Before the Crawford shocker, Canelo actually started his 2025 campaign with a bit of a placeholder. On May 3, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he faced William Scull.
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It wasn't pretty.
Canelo won by unanimous decision, but he looked... bored? Maybe "economical" is the nicer word. Fans weren't thrilled. It felt like he was just punching the clock, waiting for the massive payday that Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season were cooking up for the fall. Scull was game, but he didn't have the tools to actually hurt the Mexican superstar. That win kept Canelo’s undisputed super middleweight status intact, but it set a weird tone for what was coming.
Then came September.
The build-up was insane. You had the Netflix cameras everywhere because this was their first massive foray into live boxing streaming. 41 million people watched it. Think about that for a second. That is a staggering number for a sport people keep saying is "dying."
Crawford was jumping up two weight classes. Critics, including former champs like Shawn Porter and Paulie Malignaggi, were split. Could Bud's speed carry that much weight? Would Canelo's power just "delete" him the first time a hook landed?
The Rounds That Broke the Legend
The first three rounds were cagey. Canelo stalked. Crawford poked. It looked like the typical Canelo fight where he lets you tire yourself out against his gloves.
But Crawford isn't Jaime Munguia or Edgar Berlanga. He’s a chess player with dynamite in his jab.
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By the middle rounds, Crawford's southpaw switch was giving Canelo fits. The Mexican champion looked slow. He was loading up on single shots, trying to decapitate Crawford with one swing, but Bud was already gone. He was hitting Canelo with three-punch combos and pivoting out before the counter could even start.
"I had to make sure I set a tone," Crawford said after the fight.
He did more than that. In the ninth round, Crawford landed 33 punches to Canelo's 10. It was a clinic. A "one-sided whipping," as some called it. Canelo looked human for the first time since Bivol, maybe even more so because Crawford was smaller.
Why This Win Changes Boxing History
This wasn't just another loss on a record. This made Crawford the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be an undisputed champion in three different weight divisions. 140, 147, and now 168.
He basically completed the game.
And then, in the ultimate "mic drop" move, Crawford announced his retirement in December 2025. He went out at the very top, holding the Ring Magazine and undisputed super middleweight titles. It left the 168-pound division in a total mess—which, frankly, is exactly what the fans deserved after years of waiting for big fights.
What about David Benavidez?
Everyone wants to know if the "Mexican Monster" ever got his shot. 2025 was a weird year for him, too. While he was waiting for Canelo, David Benavidez moved up and focused on light heavyweight. He dismantled Anthony Yarde in Riyadh in November 2025 with a 7th-round TKO.
There was all this talk about a 2026 clash between Canelo and Benavidez, but after the Crawford loss, the aura is different. Canelo is currently in a "rehab" phase of his career, both physically and reputationally. He still holds power, but he's no longer the "untouchable" boogeyman of the division.
Actionable Insights for Boxing Fans
If you're trying to keep up with what happens next, here is the reality of the post-2025 landscape:
- Follow the Belts: Since Crawford retired, the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles at super middleweight are becoming fragmented. Expect a massive tournament-style scramble in 2026.
- Watch Riyadh Season: Most of the big money has moved to Saudi Arabia. If you want to see the best fight the best, keep an eye on their schedule rather than the traditional Vegas promoters.
- The Netflix Factor: Boxing is moving to streaming. The 41-million-viewer success of Canelo vs. Crawford means you should expect more "free-with-subscription" fights rather than the old $80 pay-per-view model.
- Benavidez is the New King: With Crawford retired and Canelo aging, Benavidez is effectively the most dangerous man in and around 168 and 175 pounds.
The canelo fight who won 2025 search usually leads people to look for a knockout, but the real story was the technical brilliance of a smaller man proving that IQ beats power every single time. Boxing is in a transition period now. The old guard is fading, and the new era belongs to the technicians and the risk-takers.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep your eyes on the light heavyweight division, where Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are still settling their own legendary rivalry. That's where the next "undisputed" drama will likely unfold as the super middleweight division tries to find its new identity.