Canelo Alvarez was indeed set for a busy 2025, with an opponent for his traditional Cinco De Mayo bout and a highly anticipated clash with Terence Crawford reportedly scheduled for September. The year proved to be pivotal, seeing the Mexican superstar achieve undisputed status once more before facing one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite.
Alvarez entered 2025 on the back of a string of victories, most recently a unanimous decision win over Edgar Berlanga on September 14, 2024. In that bout, Canelo dropped Berlanga in the third round on his way to a dominant performance, with judges scoring it 117-110, 118-109, and 118-109. Despite this clear victory, as his illustrious career began to progress, the pound-for-pound talent had met criticism over recent opponent choices. With David Benavidez seemingly posing too much of a risk at that point in his career, Canelo was reportedly drawn towards a big money fight against Terence Crawford – a matchup that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, had publicly expressed a desire to see in 2025.
Crawford, often considered the clear underdog in a potential super-middleweight clash, had last moved up to face Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024. In a closely contested bout, Crawford secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, capturing the WBA super welterweight title and becoming a four-division world champion. While a significant achievement, fans and boxing experts alike believed moving up further to 168 pounds might prove to be a step too far for ‘Bud’, given the size disparity with Canelo. This left Crawford with until September to acclimate to the higher weight, leaving Canelo’s annual slot in May free for another opponent.
Canelo’s May 2025 Bout: The Road to Undisputed
In an interview prior to his May 2025 fight, Canelo’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, suggested two potential opponents: Christian Mbilli and William Scull. Both fighters presented intriguing challenges within the super-middleweight division.
Christian Mbilli, with an impressive record of 28-0 at the time of the article’s original publication, had recently fought Sergiy Derevyanchenko on August 17, 2024, winning a near-shutout unanimous decision. Derevyanchenko was a respected veteran who had previously run a very close fight with Jaime Munguia. However, subsequent developments saw Mbilli’s path diverge. He was initially announced to be fighting 24-0 Kevin Lele Sadjo in an IBF super-middleweight title eliminator on May 8, 2025, but this fight was canceled on February 18, 2025, due to financial issues. Instead, Mbilli went on to fight Maciej Sulecki on June 27, 2025, securing a first-round technical knockout to claim the WBC Interim Super Middleweight title. He later fought Lester Martinez on September 13, 2025, on the undercard of Canelo-Crawford, in a bout that ended in a split draw, allowing Mbilli to retain his interim belt. Mbilli’s current record stands at 29 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw, with 24 knockouts.
With Mbilli’s May 2025 plans changing, William Scull emerged as the clear frontrunner for Canelo’s Cinco De Mayo fight. Scull, a Cuban-German professional boxer, held the IBF Super-middleweight title, which he had won on October 19, 2024, by unanimous decision against Vladimir Shishkin. Canelo had previously been stripped of this very IBF belt in July 2024 for not making a mandatory defense against Scull, setting the stage for a compelling narrative.
The fight between Canelo Alvarez and William Scull indeed took place on May 3, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Canelo, with a record of 62-2-2 (39 KOs) entering the bout, faced the undefeated Scull (23-0, 9 KOs). The fight saw Canelo reclaim the IBF title, adding it to his WBA, WBC, and WBO belts, thereby becoming a two-time undisputed super-middleweight champion. The judges scored the bout 115-113, 116-112, and 119-109 in favor of Alvarez. While Scull displayed his tricky, mobile boxing style, frustrating Canelo at times, Alvarez’s patient pressure and powerful body shots ultimately secured the unanimous decision. Scull’s record now stands at 23 wins and 2 losses. He later lost to Jacob Bank by TKO in January 2026.
Crawford’s Historic Challenge and the Mega-Fight Outcome
Following his victory over William Scull, the stage was set for the highly anticipated mega-fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. This bout, billed as “Once In A Lifetime” and “There Can Only Be One,” was officially confirmed for September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and was streamed worldwide on Netflix. The fight was for the undisputed super-middleweight championship, with Crawford moving up two weight classes to challenge Canelo’s reign.
Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs at the time of the fight) entered the ring as a three-division champion, having recently added the WBA super welterweight title to his collection. His last fight against Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024, saw him go the distance for the first time in nearly eight years, winning a unanimous decision. Madrimov proved to be a durable and disciplined opponent, testing Crawford’s ability to adapt at a higher weight class. Despite concerns about the significant weight jump to 168 pounds, Crawford’s confidence remained unwavering.
The fight itself was a masterclass from Terence Crawford. Facing the naturally larger and powerful Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs), Crawford utilized his exceptional speed, movement, and switch-hitting ability to control the action from the opening rounds. He landed clean counters and largely evaded Canelo’s signature power shots. While Alvarez had moments of pressing forward, he struggled to consistently land against the elusive ‘Bud’. After twelve rounds, Terence Crawford secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, making history by becoming the undisputed super-middleweight champion and a five-division world champion. This monumental win was widely regarded as the “Upset of the Year” for 2025.
Implications for the Super-Middleweight Division
The outcome of the Canelo-Crawford mega-fight sent shockwaves through the boxing world and significantly reshaped the super-middleweight landscape. Terence Crawford’s victory cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his generation, demonstrating his ability to dominate across multiple weight classes against elite competition. His undefeated record now stands at 42 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws.
For Canelo Alvarez, the loss marked a rare setback in his storied career and ended his second reign as undisputed super-middleweight champion. Despite the defeat, his willingness to face a pound-for-pound elite like Crawford, even with the perceived size disadvantage, showcased his commitment to challenging himself. Canelo had signed a lucrative four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, announced on February 7, 2025, suggesting more high-profile bouts are still on his horizon.
The division itself is now wide open with Crawford at the helm. Contenders like Christian Mbilli, who holds the WBC interim super-middleweight title, will be vying for a shot at the new undisputed king. Mbilli’s draw against Lester Martinez on the Canelo-Crawford undercard highlighted his competitive spirit and continued presence at the top of the division. The focus will now shift to who Crawford will face next as he looks to defend his newly acquired undisputed status and further solidify his place in boxing history.
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