Terence “Bud” Crawford proved to be the elite fighter he has always recognized himself as when he won a unanimous decision over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Coming up multiple weight classes, Crawford displayed all of the brilliant boxing skills he is known for and never wilted under the pressure of Canelo’s intense attack.
Official scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
Here’s the round-by-round, with more to come:
SAUL ALVAREZ (63-2-2 39 KOs) vs. TERENCE CRAWFORD (41-0, 31 KOs)
12 Rounds, 3X Super Middleweight titles
RD1 – Very cautious start, neither did much but Crawford threw more, got a couple of clean head shots. Canelo got two to the body. 10-9 Crawford
RD2 – Canelo pressed and threw hard shots, still didn’t get there too clean. Got to the body a couple of time. Bud looking good outside and in close. 10-9 Alvarez, 19-19 (Bud very smart to not take the bait when Canelo retreated to the ropes)
RD3 – Canelo stalking, Crawford outboxing him. Stage is set for Canelo being frustrated. 10-9 Crawford, 29-28 CrawfordRD4 – Bud’s outworking him. Canelo is trying to slow him down with body shots. Bud’s much more skilled. Canelo is just a bull. 10-9 Crawford, 39-37 Crawford
RD5 – Bud’s got him so frustrated. The look on Canelo’s face is horrible. Fans of Canelo will give him that round for pressing. It’s easy for Bud. 10-9 Crawford, 49-46 Crawford
RD6 – Crawford in command, boxing, Alvarez pressing. Alvarez has thrown home run punches and missed. 10-9 Crawford, 59-55 Crawford
RD7 – Heated action. Bud trades with him. Then back to movement. Canelo can’t catch him. One of those rounds, if you root for Alvarez you say he did all the work. 10-9 Crawford, 69-64 Crawford
RD8 – Movement and combos from Crawford, single shots from Canelo. Everything’s in place for them to screw Bud. He’s clearly winning but the “harder punches/more damage” nonsense will be invoked. Bud’s unfazed. 10-9 Crawford, 79-73 Crawford
RD9 – Crawford comes out with heavy shots, exchanges with him and gets the better of it. Head clash, time out. Bud cut? Doesn’t look like it. Very close round. Crawford was going to punish him until the head butt. 10-9 Alvarez, 88-83 Crawford
RD10 – Alvarez wins that one on aggression. Maybe Crawford took the round off, maybe he’s tiring. We’ll see. 10-9 Alvarez, 97-93 Crawford
RD11 – They’re brawling. Crawford’s doing ok but I don’t know ifit wins the round. Is Canelo gassed? Brilliant finish for Bud, outclassed him the last half of the round. 10-9 Crawford, 107-102 Crawford
RD12 – Big finish, Crawford rocked him. Terence Crawford is so good. 10-9 Crawford, 117-111 Crawford
116-112, 115-113, 115-113 Crawford
CALLUM WALSH (14-0, 11 KOs) vs. FERNANDO VARGAS (17-0, 15 KOs)
10 Rounds, Super Welterweights
RD1 – Cautious start for two southpaws. Walsh dictating the action, 10-9 Walsh
RD2– Similar to round 1, Walsh throws combinations from time to time, Vargas not doing much. 10-9 Walsh, 20-18 Walsh
RD3 – Walsh comes after him to start and it heats up a bit but after a while it’s back to the same cadence. Walsh is making it pretty one-sided. 10-9 Walsh, 30-27 Walsh
RD4 – Vargas sustained an attack for the first time but it didn’t win him the round. Both guys digging the body. Walsh’s punches more accurate and heavier. 10-9 Walsh, 40-36 Walsh
RD5 – Walsh more effective. Vargas is doing better but Walsh is in charge. Vargas warned twice for low blows. 10-9 Walsh, 50-45 Walsh
RD6 – Not exciting, not interesting. Vargas probably won that one. 10-9 Vargas, 59-55
RD7 – 10-9 Walsh, 69-64 Walsh
RD8 – 10-9 Walsh, 79-73 Walsh
RD9 – 10-9 Walsh, 89-82 Walsh
RD10 – 10-9 Walsh, 99-91 Walsh
Walsh by UD10, 99-91, 99-91, 100-90
CHRISTIAN MBILLI (29-0 24 KOs) vs. LESTER MARTINEZ (19-0, 16 KOs)
12 Rounds, Super Middleweights (WBC Interim)
RD1 – Mbilli pushes right onto his chest and the whole round is fought in close. Martinez made a little space and got his power shots in. Close, even round. Slight edge to Martintez, 10-9
RD2 – More of the same Mbilli got the better of it that time. Furious pace. Can’t possibly go the distance. 10-9 Mbilli, 19-19
RD3 – Mbilli took a bit of a brather and Martinez kept at it, taking the first half of the round. Mbilli came on strong to finish. 10-9 Mbilli, 29-28 Mbilli
RD4 – Martinez outworking him. Mbilli going for the big bomb Martinez putting his shots together. 10-9 Martinez 38-38
RD5 – Martinez separating himself. Mbilli has one gear and he’s right there in front of him. Martinez has taken over. Punchstat numbers on the screen couldn’t possibly be accurate. 10-9 Martinez 48-47 Martinez
RD6 – Martinez outfighting him, no matter what we’re hearing. 10-9 Martinez 58-56 Martinez
RD7 – Clear Martinez round while commentary is horrendous. Mbilli’s getting busted up. 10-9 Martinez 68-65 Martinez
RD8 – Great action. Mbilli turned it up. Martinez unfazed, but Mbilli got more done. Martinez rocked him at the end. 10-9 Mbilli, 77-75 Martinez
RD9 – Incredible action, Mbilli may have pulled it out at the end. Martinez got a lot done throughout but Mbilli closed hard. I go with Martinez 10-9 87-84 Martinez
RD10 – Amazing fight. Not much separating them. 10-9 Mbilli, 96-94 Martinez
97-93 Martinez 96-94 Mbilli, 95-95
