LAS VEGAS (AP) 鈥 Canelo Alvarez hadn鈥檛 been beltless since 2015.
But after being outclassed by Terence Crawford for the unified super middleweight championship on Saturday night, Alvarez (63-3-2) finds himself without a title for the first time in 10 years.
While Crawford (42-0) was masterful in everything he did, in front of a venue-record 70,482 fans inside Allegiant Stadium, Alvarez didn鈥檛 look like the dominating fighter he鈥檚 been for the better part of a nearly 20-year career.
鈥淲e already knew Crawford is a great fighter and I did what I was supposed to do,鈥 Alvarez said. 鈥淚 tried every way, and I trained really hard. He deserves all the credit. I try my best tonight, and I just (couldn鈥檛) figure out the style.”
Unlike performances in the past, when even a slow start didn鈥檛 take away from Canelo鈥檚 power and late-round surges, the 35-year-old appeared out of sorts at times when he鈥檇 normally turn the squared circle into his playground.
It was especially alarming with his challenger being nearly three years older, leaving the question if Alvarez鈥檚 better days are behind him.
Asked if there was anything specific Crawford did that gave him the most trouble, Alvarez was blunt.
鈥淓verything,鈥 he said.
The conversation may have been different had Alvarez challenged Crawford with his looping left hooks to the body, or straight punches to the head. But Alvarez was noticeably slower; he appeared frustrated at times while Crawford gained momentum, and it was the Mexican superstar who looked like the older pugilist against the soon-to-be 38-year-old pride of Omaha, Nebraska.
It wasn鈥檛 until the fourth round that Canelo landed his first significant shot, and the fifth that the fight became competitive. But even as the former champ activated his strategy, Crawford got better, like in the seventh when he snapped Canelo鈥檚 head back with a vicious shot.
Despite the dominating performance, Crawford refused to disrespect Alvarez.
鈥淗e was definitely frustrated, because what he was trying to do wasn鈥檛 working,鈥 said Crawford, who returned to the postfight press conference to share a moment with Alvarez on stage. 鈥(But) I think you鈥檙e not giving him enough credit, trying to take things away from him. He was 100% prepared. I just think I was the better man.鈥
And while Alvarez may no longer have a championship belt, the ever-gracious face of boxing said he’ll always feel like a champion.
鈥淚 win no matter what,鈥 Alvarez said. 鈥淣o matter what, I still feel (like) the champion. It is what it is. You need to take the loss and accept everything.
鈥淏ut I鈥檓 gonna continue. I鈥檓 gonna continue to do it.鈥
___
AP boxing:
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation