Canelo vs. Crawford Embodies The Intense Boxing Rivalry Between Mexico and the United States

3 September, 2025

Canelo vs. Crawford Embodies The Intense Boxing Rivalry Between Mexico and the United States

The wait is so nearly over, as boxing greats Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford, strive to determine who is king of the castle, chronicling a new chapter of ring war history and chivalry.

The bout, dubbed the “Clash of Champions,” comes to pass Saturday, September 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and it’s a transcendental moment in boxing.

Canelo Álvarez is the undisputed super middleweight champion and one of the most dominant figures of the last decade. Then, there’s undefeated Terence Crawford, undisputed champion in two divisions (super lightweight and welterweight), who will audaciously and enterprisingly move up two weight classes to diligently challenge the Mexican idol.

This promises elite action but also adds another chapter to the historic and ongoing rivalry between the boxing titans of Mexico and the United States.

For decades, this rivalry has intensified, transcending the sport to become a clash specifically for pugilistic supremacy, melding the aggressiveness and indomitable heart of the “Mexican style” against the cool technical precision and iron clad discipline of American fighters.

These fire and ice, oil on water layers of intense rivalry of lion like pride, have resulted in some of the most memorable fights clauses in the history of the World Boxing Council, which we share below.

The WBC fight records between the two nations give an advantage to Mexico with 96 wins, compared to 52 for the USA and 4 draws. The following are the WBC fights that have carved out their place throughout history:

21/3/63	ULTIMINIO RAMOS – DAVEY MOORE	KO 10	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
7/5/65	VICENTE SALDIVAR – RAUL ROJAS	KO 15	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
24/6/68	JOE FRAZIER – MANUEL RAMOS	TKO 2	NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
18/4/69	JOSE NAPOLES – CURTIS COKES	TKO 13	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
29/6/69	JOSE NAPOLES – CURTIS COKES	TKO 10	MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
13/2/70	JOSE NAPOLES – ERNIE LOPEZ	TKO 15	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
3/12/70	BILLY BACKUS – JOSE NAPOLES	TKO 4	SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
4/6/71	JOSE NAPOLES – BILLY BACKUS	TKO 4	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
14/12/71	RUBEN OLIVARES – JESUS PIMENTEL	TKO 11	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
10/6/72	JOSE NAPOLES – ADOLPHE PRUITT	TKO 2	MONTERREY, NUEVO LEON, MEXICO
15/9/72	CHANGO CARMONA – ARMANDO RAMOS	KO 8	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
28/2/73	JOSE NAPOLES – ERNIE LOPEZ	KO 7	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
20/6/75	RUBEN OLIVARES – BOBBY CHACON	TKO 2	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
21/1/77	CARLOS PALOMINO – ARMANDO MUÑIZ	KO 15	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
13/9/77	DANNY LOPEZ – JOSE TORRES	TKO 7	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
25/2/78	CARLOS ZARATE – ALBERTO DAVILA	TKO 8	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
27/5/78	CARLOS PALOMINO – ARMANDO MUÑIZ	DEC 15	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
2/2/80	SALVADOR SANCHEZ – DANNY LOPEZ	TKO 13	PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A.
9/2/80	LUPE PINTOR – ALBERTO SANDOVAL	TKO 12	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
12/4/80	SALVADOR SANCHEZ – RUBEN CASTILLO	DEC 15	TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A.
21/6/80	SALVADOR SANCHEZ – DANNY LOPEZ	TKO 14	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
19/12/80	LUPE PINTOR – ALBERTO DAVILA	DEC 15	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
8/3/81	CORNELIUS BOZA-EDWARDS – RAFAEL LIMON	DEC 15	STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
8/5/82	SALVADOR SANCHEZ – JORGE GARCIA	DEC 15	DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A.
11/12/82	BOBBY CHACON – RAFAEL LIMON	DEC 15	SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
1/9/83	ALBERTO DAVILA – FRANCISCO BEJINES	KO 12	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
3/11/84	JUAN MEZA – JAIME GARZA	KO 1	KINGSTON, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
19/4/85	JUAN MEZA – MIKE AYALA	TKO 6	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
19/4/85	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – RUBEN CASTILLO	KO 6	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
7/7/85	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – ROGER MAYWEATHER	TKO 2	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
21/9/85	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – DWIGHT PRATCHETT	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
5/5/86	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – LONNIE SMITH	KO 5	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
13/6/86	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – REFUGIO ROJAS	TKO 7	NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
3/8/86	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – ROCKY LOCKRIDGE	DEC 12	MONTECARLO, MONACO
12/7/87	LUPE AQUINO – DUANE THOMAS	DEC 12	BURDEOS, FRANCE
19/7/87	JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ – TERRENCE ALLI	DEC 12	SAINT TROPEZ, FRANCE
12/11/87	ROGER MAYWEATHER – RENE ARREDONDO	KO 6	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
12/3/88	JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ – PERNELL WHITAKER	DEC 12	PARIS, FRANCE
24/3/88	ROGER MAYWEATHER – MAURICIO ACEVES	KO 3	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
22/9/88	ROGER MAYWEATHER – RODOLFO GONZALEZ	TKO 12	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
13/5/89	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – ROGER MAYWEATHER	TKO 11	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
22/6/89	DANIEL ZARAGOZA – PAUL BANKE	DEC 12	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
20/8/89	PERNELL WHITAKER – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ	DEC 12	NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, U.S.A.
21/8/89	DANIEL ZARAGOZA – FRANKIE DUARTE	TKO 10	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
22/1/90	RAUL PEREZ – GABY CANIZALES	DEC 12	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
17/3/90	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – MELDRICK TAYLOR	TKO 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
23/4/90	PAUL BANKE – DANIEL ZARAGOZA	KO 9	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
7/5/90	RAUL PEREZ – GERARDO MARTINEZ	TKO 9	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
25/2/91	GREG RICHARDSON – RAUL PEREZ	DEC 12	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
18/3/91	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – JOHN DUPLESSIS	TKO 4	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
20/5/91	GREG RICHARDSON – VICTOR RABANALES	DEC 12	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
14/9/91	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – LONNIE SMITH	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
5/10/91	PERNELL WHITAKER – JORGE PAEZ	DEC 12	RENO, NEVADA, U.S.A.
9/12/91	DANIEL ZARAGOZA – PAUL BANKE	DEC 12	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
1/8/92	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – FRANKIE MITCHELL	TKO 4	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
5/12/92	MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ – DARRYL TYSON	DEC 12	NAUCALPAN, EDO. MEX, MEXICO
5/12/92	TRACY PATTERSON – DANIEL ZARAGOZA	DRAW 12	BERCK, FRANCE
12/1/93	JAMES MCGIRT – GENARO LEON	DEC 12	NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
20/2/93	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – GREG HAUGEN	TKO 5	MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
13/3/93	MICHAEL CARBAJAL – HUMBERTO GONZALEZ	KO 7	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
8/5/93	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – TERRENCE ALLI	TKO 6	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
13/8/93	MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ – DAVID SAMPLE	DEC 12	GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO
10/9/93	PERNELL WHITAKER – JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ	DRAW 12	SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
25/9/93	TRACY PATTERSON – DANIEL ZARAGOZA	TKO 7	POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
29/1/94	FRANKIE RANDALL – JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
19/2/94	HUMBERTO GONZALEZ – MICHAEL CARBAJAL	DEC 12	INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
7/5/94	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – FRANKIE RANDALL	TDEC 8	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
4/8/94	MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ – LEAVANDER JOHNSON	TKO 8	CD. JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
17/9/94	GABRIEL RUELAS – JAMES LEIJA	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
17/9/94	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – MELDRICK TAYLOR	TKO 8	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
12/11/94	HUMBERTO GONZALEZ – MICHAEL CARBAJAL	DEC 12	MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
10/12/94	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – TONY LOPEZ	TKO 10	MONTERREY, NUEVO LEON, MEXICO
13/12/94	MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ – CALVIN GROVE	TKO 5	ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, U.S.A.
7/1/95	ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ – KEVIN KELLEY	TKO 11	SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
28/1/95	GABRIEL RUELAS – FRED LIBERATORE	TKO 2	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
2/6/95	ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ – TONY GREEN	TKO 9	LEDYARD, CONNECTICUT, US.A.
2/6/95	MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ – MARTY JAKUBOWSKI	DEC 12	LEDYARD, CONNECTICUT, US.A.
19/8/95	MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ – LAMAR MURPHY	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
7/6/96	OSCAR DE LA HOYA – JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ	TKO 4	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
18/1/97	OSCAR DE LA HOYA – MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
13/6/98	CESAR BAZAN – STEVE JOHNSTON	DEC 12	EL PASO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
12/9/98	ERIK MORALES – JUNIOR JONES	TKO 4	TIJUANA, B.C.N., MEXICO
27/2/99	STEVE JOHNSTON – CESAR BAZAN	DEC 12	MICCOSUKEE I. G., FLORIDA, U.S.A.
17/3/00	STEVE JOHNSTON – JULIO ALVAREZ	TKO 2	DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A.
18/3/00	FLOYD MAYWEATHER – GOYO VARGAS	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
17/6/00	JOSE LUIS CASTILLO – STEVE JOHNSTON	DEC 12	BELL GARDENS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
2/9/00	ERIK MORALES – KEVIN KELLEY (INTERIM)	TKO 7	EL PASO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
15/9/00	JOSE LUIS CASTILLO – STEVE JOHNSTON	DRAW 12	DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A.
18/1/01	WILLIE JORRIN – OSCAR LARIOS	DEC 12	SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
28/7/01	ROY JONES – JULIO GONZALEZ	DEC 12	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
10/11/01	FLOYD MAYWEATHER – JESUS CHAVEZ	TKO 9	SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
20/4/02	FLOYD MAYWEATHER – JOSE LUIS CASTILLO	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
1/11/02	OSCAR LARIOS – WILLIE JORRIN	TKO 1	SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
16/11/02	ERIK MORALES – PAUL AYALA	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
7/12/02	FLOYD MAYWEATHER – JOSE LUIS CASTILLO	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
22/2/03	ERIK MORALES – EDDIE CROFT	TKO 3	MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
3/5/03	ERIK MORALES – BOBBY VELARDEZ	TKO 5	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
5/6/04	JOSE LUIS CASTILLO – JUAN LAZCANO	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
4/9/04	CORY SPINKS – MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
5/3/05	JOSE LUIS CASTILLO – JULIO CESAR DIAZ	TKO 10	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
20/8/05	HUMBERTO SOTO – ROCKY JUAREZ (INTERIM TITLE)	DEC 12	ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS, U.S.A.
10/9/05	BRIAN VILORIA – ERIC ORTIZ	KO 1	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
20/5/06	MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA – ROCKY JUAREZ	DEC 12	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
10/8/06	OMAR NIÑO – BRIAN VILORIA	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
12/8/06	DAVID DIAZ – JOSE ARMANDO SANTA CRUZ (INTERIM)	TKO 10	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
16/9/06	MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA – ROCKY JUAREZ	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
18/11/06	OMAR NIÑO – BRIAN VILORIA	DREW 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
14/4/07	EDGAR SOSA – BRIAN VILORIA	DEC 12	SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
4/8/07	DAVID DIAZ – ERIK MORALES	DEC 12	CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A.
3/11/07	JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ – ROCKY JUAREZ	DEC 12	TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A.
16/2/08	CRISTIAN MIJARES – JOSE NAVARRO	DEC 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
21/6/08	ANDRE BERTO – MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ	TKO 7	MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
28/3/09	HUMBERTO SOTO – ANTONIO DAVIS	TKO 4	TIJUANA, B.C.N., MEXICO CITY
13/3/10	HUMBERTO SOTO – DAVID DIAZ	UD 12	ARLINGTON, TEXAS, U.S.A.
27/11/10	ANDRE BERTO – FREDDY HERNANDEZ	TKO 1	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
4/12/10	HUMBERTO SOTO – URBANO ANTILLON	UD 12	ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
17/9/11	SAUL ALVAREZ – ALFONSO GOMEZ	TKO 6	LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
19/11/11	JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. – PETER MANFREDO JR	TKO 5	HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A.
24/3/12	DANNY GARCIA – ERIK MORALES	UD 12	HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A.
21/4/12	ABNES MARES – ERIC MOREL (VACANT)	UD 12	EL PASO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
5/5/12	SAUL ALVAREZ – SHANE MOSLEY	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
8/9/12	ANTONIO DeMARCO – JOHN MOLINA	TKO 1	OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
15/9/12	SERGIO MARTINEZ – JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
15/9/12	SAUL ALVAREZ – JOSESITO LOPEZ	TKO 5	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
20/10/12	DANNY GARCIA – ERIK MORALES	KO 4	BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
17/11/12	ADRIEN BRONER – ANTONIO DeMARCO	TKO 8	ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A.
20/4/13	SAUL ALVAREZ – AUSTIN TROUT (VOLUNTARY)	UD 12	SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
14/9/13	FLOYD MAYWEATHER – SAUL ALVAREZ (MANDATORY)	MD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
13/9/14	LEO SANTA CRUZ – MANUEL ROMAN (VOLUNTARY)	TKO 2	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
28/3/15	GARY RUSSELL JR – JHONNY GONZALEZ (VOL)	TKO 4	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
26/8/17	REY VARGAS – RONNY RIOS	UD 12	CARSON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
2/12/17	REY VARGAS – OSCAR NEGRETE	UD 12	NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
4/5/19	SAUL ALVAREZ – DANIEL JACOBS (WBC/WBA/IBF)	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
24/8/19	JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA– DEWAYNE BEAMON (VOL.)	TKO 9	HERMOSILLO, SONORA, MEXICO
2/11/19	MIGUEL BERCHELT – JASON SOSA (VOL.)	KO 4	CARSON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
15/5/21	BRANDON FIGUEROA (WBA CHAM.) – LUIS NERY	KO 7	CARSON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
19/6/21	JERMALL CHARLO – JUAN MACIAS MONTIEL	UD 12	HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A.
6/11/21	SAUL ALVAREZ (WBC/WBA/WBO) – CALEB PLANT (IBF CHAM.)(TEOTIHUACANO)	KO 11	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
5/2/22	JESSE RODRIGUEZ – CARLOS CUADRAS (VACANT)	UD 12	PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A.
30/4/22	SHAKUR STEVENSON (WBO CHAM.) – OSCAR VALDEZ	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
17/9/22	JESSE RODRIGUEZ – ISRAEL GONZALEZ (VOL.)	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
8/10/22	SEBASTIAN FUNDORA – CARLOS OCAMPO (INTERIM)	UD 12	CARSON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
26/11/22	REGIS PROGRAIS – JOSE ZEPEDA (VACANT)	TKO 11	CARSON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
11/2/23	O’SHAQUIE FOSTER – REY VARGAS (VACANT)	UD 12	SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A.
30/9/23	SAUL ALVAREZ – JERMELL CHARLO (WBC SW CHAM.) (PUEBLA BELT)	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
28/10/23	O’SHAQUIE FOSTER – EDUARDO HERNANDEZ (MANDATORY)	TKO 12	CANCUN, Q. ROO, MEXICO
29/6/24	JESSE RODRIGUEZ – JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA (VOL.)	KO 7	PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A.
14/9/24	SAUL ALVAREZ – EDGAR BERLANGA (VOL.)	UD 12	LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A.
9/11/24	JESSE RODRIGUEZ – PEDRO GUEVARA (WBC INTERIM CHAMP)	TKO 3	PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.
16/11/24	WILLIAM ZEPEDA – TEVIN FARMER II (INTERIM)	SD 10	RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
29/3/25	WILLIAM ZEPEDA – TEVIN FARMER II (INTERIM)	MD 12	CANCUN, Q. ROO, MEXICO
12/7/25	SHAKUR STEVENSON – WILLIAM ZEPEDA (WBC INTERIM CHAM.)(ABS. TIT.)	UD 12	QUEENS, NEW YORK, U.S.A.

Canelo vs. Crawford Embodies The Intense Boxing Rivalry Between Mexico and the United States

Related posts

Mandarin moment as Inoue and Nakatani Present Fight Card

City Hall Lights Up Green and Gold as Leaders Unite to Combat Bullying Across Los Angeles