GLOVES STORY

Bringing back boxing and strengthening the sweet science with world champion Terence Crawford’s historic victory on a star-studded night in Las Vegas.

Boxing is back. 

At a moment when it is often overshadowed by an ascendant combat sport soon set to stage on the South Lawn of the White House, Terence “Bud” Crawford’s win over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez returned boxing to the rarefied spotlight that it has long occupied in the American imagination. 

The Sept. 13 match was about more than the four super middleweight world championship belts on Crawford’s shoulders at the conclusion of his victory by unanimous decision. It heralded a new era of visibility for a sport that routinely puts Las Vegas on the world stage and has produced Black cultural icons like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, and Jack Johnson. 

More than 41 million viewers watched the fight on Netflix, streamed live to a global audience from a packed Allegiant Stadium — hosting its first-ever boxing match for a sold-out crowd. According to ESPN, the still-undefeated Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs), out of Omaha, Neb., “became the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be undisputed champ in three weight classes. … After capturing world titles in four weight classes — including achieving undisputed status at junior welterweight and welterweight.” 

And if Crawford’s historic achievement wasn’t a big enough sign of a resurgent sport, the star power at ringside rivaled the celebrity presence on a Hollywood red carpet. Among those spotted in the crowd of of 70,482: Magic Johnson, Dave Chappelle, SZA, Evander Holyfield, Mark Wahlberg, Tracy Morgan, Lizzo, Wiz Khalifa, Marshawn Lynch, and Mike Tyson. 

The two men in the ring for the main event put on a spectacular display of boxing for 12 rounds, as Crawford overcame doubts over how jumping into a higher weight class would slow him down. Ultimately, his speed and counter-punching ability gave him the win. 

“I’m the face of boxing now, and the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world like I’ve always been,” Crawford said after the fight.“This is the top of the top. Canelo is an all-time great. He’s the last one. There are no more Canelos. When you look around, you say, ‘I’m the Canelo.”