Sep 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Canelo Alvarez (black/gold trunks) and Terence Crawford (black/red trunks) box during their super middleweight title bout at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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Terence Crawford Takes Over As The New Pound For Pound King As Canelo Alvarez Falls In The Rankings

The pound for pound rankings represent the sport’s ultimate measuring stick, separating the good from the truly great. For years, fans have debated endlessly about which boxer deserves that coveted top spot. This past weekend in Las Vegas changed everything when Terence Crawford delivered a masterclass performance that shook up the entire boxing world.

Crawford’s stunning victory over Canelo Alvarez didn’t just win him more belts. It catapulted him to the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings while sending the Mexican superstar tumbling down several positions. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is how Crawford managed to dethrone one of boxing’s biggest names on one of the sport’s grandest stages. The American fighter showed 41 million Netflix viewers exactly why many consider him boxing‘s most complete athlete. Meanwhile, Canelo found himself in unfamiliar territory, going from undisputed champion to completely beltless in one night.

Terence Crawford Makes History With Third Undisputed Title

Crawford became the first male boxer to win undisputed titles across three different divisions in the four-belt era, achieving this incredible feat by moving up three full weight classes from his previous undisputed championship. The 38 year old Nebraska native has been building toward this moment his entire career. Crawford has systematically conquered every weight class he’s entered, from lightweight all the way up to super middleweight.

What sets Crawford apart isn’t just his ability to win fights, but how he wins them. He doesn’t just beat opponents; he outclasses them completely. His performance against Alvarez showcased his boxing skills to millions of viewers, many of whom surely came away amazed by what they witnessed. The fight was a boxing clinic that reminded everyone why Crawford has been considered one of the sport’s most dangerous fighters for years!

Terence Crawford’s Rise And Canelo Alvarez’s Dramatic Fall Down The Rankings

With this win, Terence Crawford officially took over the Ring pound for pound rankings. Before this fight, he was a #3, with Naoya Inoue at #2 and Oleksandr Usyk at #1. Now he moves to the top of the list!

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Canelo Alvarez finds himself in a difficult and unique position. He went from holding world titles for seven straight years to suddenly being beltless after his loss to Crawford. For someone who’s been considered the face of boxing for so long, this represents a massive shift in his career trajectory. The Mexican superstar went from being ranked #8 in the pound for pound list to #10. This is a significant drop that reflects just how convincing Crawford’s victory was.

The loss puts Canelo at a crossroads in his career. He faces tough choices about his future, including whether to pursue a rematch with Crawford, move up to light heavyweight to face David Benavidez, or potentially take easier fights against overmatched contenders. At 34 years old, these decisions will likely define how boxing history remembers one of Mexico’s greatest fighters.

(Image Credit: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Canelo Alvarez

Terence Crawford

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!