Two of the best fighters of this - and perhaps, ANY - generation collide in the biggest boxing night of the year. Fellow four-division titlists Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, 62-2-2 (39 KOs) and Terence "Bud" Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs) meet with Alvarez's undisputed 168lbs championship Saturday evening on Netflix from Allegiant Stadium, home to the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
Alvarez attempts his tenth overall defense of at least two super middleweight titles, and seventh as the fully unified champ. The fighting pride of Guadalajara, Mexico has also claimed titles at junior middleweight, middleweight and light heavyweight but has reached historic heights at 168lbs amidst his Hall of Fame career. The reigns at 154lbs, 160lbs and 168lbs also saw Alvarez recognized as the division's lineal champion.
Crawford has also claimed lineal championship status in three weight divisions - lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight - along with a WBA 154lbs title reign that will end once the bell sounds for tonight's fight. His reign at welterweight saw Crawford knock out each of his eight opponents. The run was capped by his tour de force performance in a one-sided, ninth-round drubbing of Errol Spence to fully unify the 147lbs division.
Also on the show (in order from opener to chief support):
- Mohammed Alakel, 5-0 (1 KOs) vs. Travis Kent Crawford (no relation to Bud), 7-4 (2 KOs) - 10 rounds, 130lbs
- Christian Mbilli, 29-0 (24 KOs) vs. Lester Martinez, 19-0 (16 KOs) - 10 rounds, for Mbilli's interim WBC 168lbs title
- Callum Walsh, 14-0 (11 KOs) vs. Fernando Vargas Jnr, 17-0 (15 KOs) - 10 rounds, 154lbs
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.