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Terence Crawford on Canelo Win: 'The Blueprint Was Already Out'

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Oct 4, 2025 11:02 PM ET

When Terence Crawford agreed to fight Canelo Alvarez, he knew the challenge ahead: moving up two weight classes, facing a future Hall of Famer, and headlining one of the sport’s biggest stages at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sept. 13. Yet, instead of doubt, Crawford said he felt excitement.

Studying the Past

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) explained that he went into the fight with Alvarez confident because he had studied what others had already exposed.

“I knew I was gonna beat him,” Crawford said on All The Smoke Fight. “When I look at the styles that gave him problems and the styles that he lost to, I have all that and some. The blueprint was already out on how to beat Canelo Alvarez.”

Alvarez, now 63-3-2, had previously been outboxed by Floyd Mayweather (2013) and Dmitry Bivol (2021). Crawford’s slick movement, precision counterpunching, and ability to control range echoed those winning formulas and added his own versatility.

Everyone wants a piece of Bud… but they might’ve waited too long

Full episode of THE ART OF WARD with Terence Crawford is out now on our YouTube. pic.twitter.com/evHuKDbtoL

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) October 3, 2025

Making History

Crawford executed the plan flawlessly, earning a unanimous decision victory over Alvarez and becoming the first boxer in history to hold undisputed championships in three different weight classes.

No Blueprint for Crawford

While Alvarez’s vulnerabilities had been mapped out by past opponents, Crawford believes his own record shows why he is different.

“The blueprint has never been out on how to beat Terence Crawford,” he said. “So I knew I had a good chance at winning.”

Legacy Sealed, Future Wide Open

With the win, Crawford cemented his place as the sport’s current pound-for-pound No. 1 and one of the all-time greats. The question now is where he goes next — defending at 168, pursuing another mega-fight, or waiting for the dust to settle in boxing’s shifting landscape.

For Crawford, though, one truth remains clear: he had the blueprint for Canelo. And so far, no one has found the blueprint for him.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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