Terence Allan Crawford delivered a career-defining performance on September 13, 2025, defeating Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez Barragán by unanimous decision in Las Vegas. This historic victory didn’t just make Crawford the first male boxer to achieve undisputed status in three weight classes; it also intensified long-standing discussions about Canelo Alvarez’s carefully managed career.
Critics have often suggested Canelo’s team strategically selected opponents throughout his formidable boxing journey.
McIntyre foresaw Canelo’s vulnerabilities years ago
The highly anticipated super middleweight championship bout at Allegiant Stadium drew a record attendance of 70,482 fans, generating an impressive $47,231,887 in ticket sales. But beyond the numbers, the fight served as a flashpoint, lending credence to claims that Alvarez, a multi-division champion, had a history of avoiding bigger threats in favor of what some perceived as less challenging matchups.
Years before the fight was even a realistic prospect, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, Terence Crawford’s long-time coach, held a firm conviction. He believed his pupil had the skillset to overcome Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez, despite the perceived size difference that worried many observers.
“I told [him], I said, ‘You could beat that dude, man,’ because he didn’t look that tall,” McIntyre explained to Brian Custer. BoMac noted that while Canelo was “just wider,” Crawford’s superior boxing IQ was the critical factor, seeing through the aura that often surrounded Alvarez.
McIntyre’s assessment looked beyond Canelo’s reputation, recognizing a shrewdly guided career path that didn’t always prioritize the biggest risks. He maintained that belief right up to the point Crawford finally got the opportunity in the ring, where Canelo proved to be the solvable fighter BoMac always envisioned.
A long pattern of perceived selective opponent choices
The idea of Canelo Alvarez’s carefully managed career isn’t new; it’s a narrative that has followed him through various weight classes. Gennadiy Golovkin, for instance, spent years pursuing a fight with Canelo before finally getting him in the ring at 35 years old.
Their initial bout in September 2017 ended in a controversial draw, a decision many observers felt should have gone to Golovkin. This incident, among others, began to shape the perception of Canelo’s camp often dictating terms and timing.
In 2019, when Canelo moved up to light heavyweight, the criticism resurfaced. He challenged Sergey Kovalev, then 36 years old, for the WBO title. Many commentators pointed out that Artur Beterbiev, who held the WBC and IBF belts after stopping Oleksandr Gvozdyk, presented a much more formidable challenge at the time.
Similar critiques followed Canelo’s choices at 168 pounds, his undisputed division. Fighters like Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga, and William Scull received title shots, while several other “dangerous younger contenders” were reportedly left off his schedule.
Terence Crawford himself explicitly accused Canelo of “cherry-picking fights for years.” He cited examples such as Canelo fighting “a smaller American” like Jermall Charlo (or Jermell Charlo) and Amir Khan, noting Alvarez’s historical tendency to dictate catchweights.
Commentators also suggested that Canelo might have “cherry picked Terence B Crawford” over contenders like David Benavidez, viewing Crawford, who was moving up two weight classes, as a potentially easier opponent.
Crawford’s strong opinions on strategic matchmaking extend to other legends, as he also asserts Manny Pacquiao dodged a fight with him. This broader perspective highlights Crawford’s consistent stance on fighters seeking out less challenging bouts.
John David Jackson, a boxing expert, echoed these sentiments, stating that Canelo “hasn’t really fought anybody of value in the last few years.” Jackson accused Alvarez of “ducking a lot” and “picking and choosing” opponents, specifically mentioning Benavidez and Artur Beterbiev as fighters Canelo had seemingly avoided.
Crawford’s comments, initially discussed in a YouTube video in August 2024 after his win over Israil Madrimov, were fueled by Canelo’s own questioning of Crawford’s past opponents. “It definitely irritated me,” Crawford told Dan Rafael. “I can say so much about his resume and the guys he has fought, at the time he fought, and so forth. But. I am not gonna do that.”
Canelo’s reflections after the historic loss
Following the September 2025 defeat, Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez acknowledged Terence Crawford’s superior performance. He conceded, “I tried everything I could and trained very hard, and he deserves all the credit.” Canelo admitted he couldn’t understand Crawford’s unique style.
In an unexpected turn, Alvarez also remarked, “I think Crawford is much better than Floyd Mayweather.” But in July 2026, nearly a year after the fight, Canelo Alvarez recounted a “very strange feeling” during fight week as the primary reason for his loss, rather than poor training or underestimating Crawford.
“Everything is because my mind wasn’t there,” he stated, adding, “I feel like I wasn’t there thinking about other things. A lot of things happen in the fight week.”
Alvarez also expressed regret over not securing a rematch clause in the contract, a detail that now prevents an immediate do-over. This omission has left fans and commentators wondering about the possibility of a second clash between the two boxing greats.
Crawford’s retirement and Canelo’s future plans
Terence Crawford, at age 38, unexpectedly retired in December 2025, just months after his historic victory over Canelo Alvarez. His departure from the sport left many, including Alvarez, disappointed, especially given the calls for a rematch.
Canelo expressed his regret in May 2026, stating, “That’s sad, because I think the people deserve the rematch.” Despite the loss and Crawford’s retirement, Alvarez is already looking ahead to his next challenge, with Tim Bradley forecasting a dominant victory for Canelo over Christian Mbilli. Canelo is scheduled to fight WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli on September 12, 2026, in Saudi Arabia.
This upcoming bout marks Canelo’s return to the ring after nearly a year following his defeat to Crawford. Alvarez reportedly signed a four-fight Riyadh Season deal in 2025 and has two fights remaining heading into the Mbilli contest.
Crawford believes Canelo’s return is motivated by a desire to “come back and prove himself” and “leave on his own terms,” rather than ending his career on a loss.
Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, Crawford’s coach, offered some advice to Canelo. “Rest up, back in the gym, assess where you’re at. But look, the man has nothing to prove,” McIntyre said. He added, “Just get what you can out of the sport. Your legacy is already cemented. If you’ve got two dollars or 200 million left on your contract, get what you can and get out.”
