Saudi Gazette report
LAS VEGAS — American star Terence Crawford cemented his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats, defeating Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Álvarez by unanimous decision on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in front of 70,482 fans.
Crawford, who was crowned unified super welterweight world champion, delivered a masterclass performance that earned him The Ring magazine belt as part of the Riyadh Season 2025 showcase.
The 36-year-old improved his record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts, becoming the undisputed champion in a rare feat in modern boxing.
The event was attended by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and head of the Saudi Boxing Federation, underscoring Riyadh Season’s growing global footprint in combat sports.
The night began with a memorable win for Saudi featherweight Mohammad Al Aql, who outpointed American Travis Crawford over ten rounds to secure a unanimous decision.
Other undercard highlights included:
Super middleweight: France’s Christian Mbilli and Guatemala’s Lester Martinez battled to a split draw after ten action-packed rounds.
Junior middleweight: Ireland’s Callum Walsh defeated American Fernando Vargas Jr. by unanimous decision after ten competitive rounds.
Junior middleweight: American Brandon Adams edged Ukraine’s Serhii Bohachuk on points in a ten-round contest.
Heavyweight: American Jermaine Franklin outclassed Kazakhstan’s Ivan Dychko, winning unanimously after a bruising ten-rounder.
Featherweight: Japan’s Ruito Tsutsumi delivered the night’s fastest finish, knocking out American Javier Martinez in the opening round.
Junior welterweight: Saudi talent Sultan Al-Mohammed earned a unanimous decision victory over American Martin Caraballo in a four-round bout, igniting strong support from local fans.
Light heavyweight: Cuba’s Rayco Santana shocked American Steven Nelson with a first-round knockout.
Junior welterweight: Mexico’s Marco Verde stopped Cameroon’s Sona Akale in the fourth round with relentless pressure.
The Riyadh Season card blended elite global names with Saudi rising stars, marking another milestone in the Kingdom’s push to position itself as a major hub for world boxing.
