Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford set for historic September 13 showdown in Las Vegas

After years of negotiations, Canelo Alvarez will put his undisputed super middleweight titles on the line against Terence "Bud" Crawford on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium. Netflix will stream the fight worldwide, no pay-per-view required. Fans heading to Vegas know fight week is as much about the atmosphere as the main event from sportsbooks to free classic slots, the city keeps buzzing long before the opening bell.

The bout matches Mexico's biggest draw against boxing's slickest southpaw. Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) owns all the marbles at 168 pounds. Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) has never lost a professional fight and holds wins over Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter.

"This is the fight everyone wanted," said promoter Eddie Hearn. The winner walks away as boxing's top dog.

The matchup breakdown

Canelo brings size, power and championship experience. The 35-year-old from Guadalajara has steamrolled opponents with body shots that fold grown men. His left hook to the liver ended Caleb Plant's night. His uppercut separated Sergey Kovalev from consciousness.

Crawford counters with pure boxing skill. The switch-hitting master from Omaha has never met a southpaw stance he couldn't solve. His ring IQ is off the charts. He breaks fighters down round by round, finding openings others miss.

The weight difference tells the story. Canelo walks around near 180 pounds. Crawford typically campaigns at 147. Moving up 21 pounds to chase undisputed gold at super middleweight is either brilliant or dangerous.

"Bud's been calling out Canelo for years," said trainer BoMac McIntyre. "Now he gets his shot."

Netflix changes the game

Forget pay-per-view. Netflix subscribers get this fight included with their monthly fee. The streaming giant wants premium live sports content. Boxing needs broader reach beyond hardcore fans who drop $80 on PPV.

This marks Zuffa Boxing's first major card under Dana White's promotional company. White built the UFC into a billion-dollar empire. Now he wants to fix boxing's fractured promotional landscape.

The global audience could hit 200 million viewers across Netflix's subscriber base. Traditional boxing numbers max out around 1 million PPV buys for elite matchups.

Styles make fights

Canelo stalks opponents behind a granite chin and educated pressure. His footwork improved dramatically under trainer Eddy Reynoso. The body-head combinations come in waves until opponents wilt.

Crawford operates like a chess master. The three-division champion switches stances mid-combination. His jab sets up everything. The straight left hand has put multiple world champions on the canvas.

Crawford's last knockout came against David Avanesyan in 2022. His technical brilliance often overshadows his punching power. Don't mistake boxing skill for soft touching.

Championship stakes

All four major belts hang in the balance. Canelo unified the super middleweight division by beating Caleb Plant in 2021. He's defended against Dmitry Bivol (a loss), Gennady Golovkin (trilogy fight), and John Ryder.

Crawford captured undisputed status at welterweight before moving up. His resume includes quality names but lacks the elite-level opponents Canelo has faced consistently.

Victory puts either man in Hall of Fame territory. Crawford proves he can hang with bigger men. Canelo shows he belongs in pound-for-pound discussions.

The undercard

Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) faces Fernando Vargas Jr. in a crossroads fight between unbeaten prospects. Walsh brings Irish power. Vargas carries his father's boxing bloodline.

Christian Mbilli should feature prominently. The undefeated super middleweight contender from France has been calling for bigger opportunities.

Expect more names as fight week approaches. Netflix wants a complete entertainment package, not just the main event.

Vegas atmosphere

Allegiant Stadium holds 65,000 fans. The Raiders' home venue has hosted everything from UFC cards to Rolling Stones concerts. Boxing fits naturally in the entertainment capital.

Mexican Independence Day weekend draws huge crowds to Las Vegas. Canelo's previous September fights have packed arenas with red, white and green flags. Crawford's American supporters will travel too.

The gate should approach eight figures. Premium seats will cost championship-level money.

What's at stake

Canelo fights for legacy. Another signature victory cements his status among Mexico's greatest champions. Oscar De La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., and Erik Morales set the standard. Canelo wants to surpass them all.

Crawford chases validation. Critics question his resume despite the unbeaten record. Beating Canelo silences doubters forever. Losing ends pound-for-pound arguments.

Boxing politics disappear on fight night. Two elite fighters enter. One leaves as the sport's biggest star. And for fans watching from home, the action doesn’t have to stop when the final bell rings. You can try free play mode on themed games to keep the excitement going.

The opening bell rings September 13. Everything else is just talk.