Crawford Ascends to Boxing's Pinnacle After Dominating Alvarez, Claims Pound-for-Pound Supremacy

In a sport often defined by recency and punctuated by the shifting tides of dominance, Terence Crawford has once again seized the throne, solidifying his place as the consensus pound-for-pound king following a masterful performance against Canelo Alvarez. The victory, a watershed moment in Crawford’s already illustrious career, not only demonstrated his exceptional skill but also marked a significant shift in the landscape of boxing’s elite.

Crawford, who previously held the top spot after his comprehensive dismantling of Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023 to unify the welterweight division, reaffirms his claim amid a generation teeming with exceptional talents such as Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue. His triumph over Alvarez, however, carries a unique weight, silencing any lingering doubts and firmly establishing him as the sport’s premier fighter.

Just weeks shy of his 38th birthday, Crawford achieved a career-defining victory, moving up two weight divisions to challenge and ultimately dethrone Alvarez, capturing all four of the super middleweight world titles. This feat not only underscores Crawford’s adaptability and ambition but also etches his name in boxing history as the first male fighter in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three different weight classes – a testament to his versatility and dominance across multiple divisions.

The victory over Alvarez further positions Crawford as the new standard-bearer for boxing, a role previously held by Alvarez himself. The performance was not merely a display of Crawford’s physical attributes but a culmination of meticulous preparation and strategic brilliance. Recognizing the challenge of facing a fighter of Alvarez’s caliber, Crawford embarked on a rigorous two-year journey to enhance his physical strength while meticulously analyzing every facet of Alvarez’s fighting style.

Despite the pre-fight discussions surrounding the size disparity between the two fighters, Crawford, who possessed a one-inch height advantage and nearly four-inch reach advantage, quickly dispelled any notions that he would need to rely solely on his physical attributes. Crawford entered the ring with a noticeably more muscular frame, weighing in at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds, allowing him to engage Alvarez on a more level playing field.

Throughout the fight, Crawford showcased his tactical acumen, beginning the bout in a southpaw stance and maintaining it throughout, never reverting to his orthodox stance. This strategic decision allowed him to control the distance and dictate the pace of the fight. When the opportunity arose to engage in close-quarters exchanges, Crawford met Alvarez head-on, demonstrating his willingness to trade punches with the perceived stronger fighter.

Crawford weathered Alvarez’s inevitable mid-fight surges, absorbing the Mexican champion’s most potent blows while maintaining his composure and executing his game plan. As the fight progressed into the championship rounds, Crawford’s superior conditioning and adaptability became increasingly evident, allowing him to create the necessary separation on the scorecards and secure a decisive victory.

Crawford’s ability to evade Alvarez’s power punches and respond with even more impactful counters in the later rounds was a defining characteristic of his performance. Alvarez, renowned for his resilience and strategic adjustments, appeared to be out of solutions, displaying a level of resignation rarely seen in his career.

Crawford’s journey to the pinnacle of boxing has been anything but straightforward. He faced criticism and was even dropped by his former promoter, Top Rank, due to perceptions of lacking the charisma and marketability necessary to draw significant pay-per-view audiences. However, Crawford remained steadfast in his pursuit of greatness, consistently delivering dominant performances and proving his doubters wrong.

Following victories over Spence, Israil Madrimov, and now Alvarez, Crawford joins an exclusive group of fighters who have won titles in five different weight divisions, including legends such as Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard. This accomplishment further solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Crawford’s ascension to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings is a testament to his unwavering dedication, exceptional skill, and strategic brilliance. He has earned his place among the boxing elite and is poised to continue his reign as one of the sport’s most dominant figures.

Updated Pound-for-Pound Rankings:

Terence Crawford:
- Undisputed super middleweight champion (42-0, 31 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 4
- Crawford’s historic victory over Canelo Alvarez solidified his status as one of the greatest boxers of this century. He moved up two divisions to outbox and, at times, outmuscle Alvarez, becoming the first male boxer of the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three weight divisions.
Oleksandr Usyk:
- Undisputed heavyweight champion (24-0, 15 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 1
- Usyk’s professional career has been marked by unparalleled success. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion achieved similar status at heavyweight, defeating Daniel Dubois in their rematch. Usyk has achieved more as a professional fighter through 24 fights than almost anyone else in history.
Naoya Inoue:
- Undisputed junior featherweight champion (28-0, 25 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 2
- Inoue recorded his third victory of 2025 when he outpointed former unified champion Murdjon Akhmadaliev. He is expected to defend his titles against mandatory challenger David Picasso in December in Saudi Arabia.
Dmitry Bivol:
- Undisputed light heavyweight champion (24-1, 12 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 3
- Despite initially losing to Artur Beterbiev via majority decision in their undisputed clash, Bivol secured a victory in their rematch. A trilogy fight is rumored for 2026.
Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez:
- Unified junior bantamweight titleholder (21-0, 14 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 5
- Rodriguez continues to build his case for inclusion in the argument of best fighter in the world. In July, he unified titles at 115 pounds by dismantling Phumelala Cafu. Rodriguez will face Fernando Martinez in November in Saudi Arabia.
Artur Beterbiev:
- Light heavyweight (21-1, 20 KOs) | Previous ranking: 6
- After narrowly defeating Dmitry Bivol, Beterbiev lost in their rematch. He is set to return in November against Deon Nicholson.
David Benavidez:
- Interim light heavyweight titleholder (29-0, 24 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 8
- Benavidez moved up in weight and defeated former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell Jr. He was upgraded to full WBC titleholder at 175 pounds and will make his first defense in November against Anthony Yarde.
Shakur Stevenson:
- WBC lightweight champion (24-0, 11 KOs) | Previous ranking: 9
- Stevenson secured a win over mandatory challenger William Zepeda. His performance drew comparisons to Floyd Mayweather.
Junto Nakatani:
- WBC bantamweight champion (30-0, 23 KOs) | Previous ranking: 10
- Nakatani has become a breakout star after moving up to 118 pounds. He made the third defense of his WBC title in February.
Canelo Alvarez:
- Super middleweight (62-3-2, 38 KOs) | Previous ranking: No. 7
- Alvarez suffered a unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford. He has yet to make a decision regarding a rematch.