SHOCKING REVELATION: Canelo Alvarez EXPOSES Terence Crawford Dirty Tactics and Blows the Lid on Referee Corruption Scandal.

In a bombshell interview that has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez unleashed a scathing attack on Terence Crawford, accusing him of using dirty tactics and implicating referee corruption in their September 13, 2025, super middleweight title fight at Allegiant Stadium. The explosive claims, made just hours ago on September 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM ICT (5:00 AM EDT) during a live ESPN SportsCenter segment, have ignited a firestorm, casting a dark shadow over Crawford’s historic unanimous decision victory and his claim to the undisputed super middleweight crown. Canelo’s revelations, backed by fiery conviction, have left fans, analysts, and the boxing community reeling, demanding answers about the integrity of the sport.

The Fight That Shook Las Vegas

On September 13, 2025, Terence “Bud” Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) stunned the boxing world by defeating Canelo Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) via unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) to claim the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine super middleweight titles. The fight, streamed live on Netflix to a record 70,482 fans at Allegiant Stadium, saw Crawford, a former undisputed champion at 140 and 147 pounds, move up two weight classes to dethrone boxing’s biggest star. While Crawford’s performance was hailed as a masterclass, with his speed and jab frustrating Canelo, whispers of controversy emerged almost immediately.

Canelo’s Explosive Accusations

During the SportsCenter interview, Canelo, visibly furious, accused Crawford of employing underhanded tactics to secure the win. “He wasn’t fighting clean,” Canelo declared, his voice shaking with anger. “Crawford was holding, pushing my head down in clinches, and throwing low blows when the referee wasn’t looking. That’s not boxing—that’s dirty.” Canelo pointed to specific moments, including an alleged low blow in the sixth round that went unpunished by referee Thomas Taylor, despite a warning being issued later for a separate incident. “The referee saw it and did nothing,” Canelo fumed. “This was no accident.”

Canelo’s most shocking claim targeted the officiating itself, alleging a deeper corruption scandal. “The judges, the referee—they were in Crawford’s pocket,” he said. “How do you explain those scorecards? I landed the harder shots, but they gave him every close round. Someone wanted Crawford to win, and it wasn’t just skill.” Canelo suggested that “outside influences”—without naming specifics—swayed the fight, pointing to the involvement of Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh, who bankrolled the event. “Money talks, and it talked loud that night,” he added cryptically.

The Low Blow and Referee Controversy

Canelo’s accusations zero in on the sixth round, described as a turning point where Crawford landed a clean hook that forced him backward. Referee Thomas Taylor issued a warning to Canelo for a low blow with 1:20 left, but Canelo claims Crawford delivered an earlier, uncalled low blow that disrupted his rhythm. “I felt it below the belt, and the referee looked away,” Canelo said. “That gave Crawford confidence to keep breaking the rules.” Fans on X echoed Canelo’s frustration, with one post stating, “Crawford got away with murder in there. Ref was blind #CaneloCrawford.” Another user countered, “Canelo’s just sore he lost. Crawford outboxed him fair and square #Bud.”

The judging also drew scrutiny. Judges Tim Cheatham, Max De Luca, and Steve Weisfeld scored the fight 116-112 and 115-113 (twice) for Crawford, despite Canelo landing significant body shots and showing resilience in the later rounds. Critics, including Canelo, argue the scorecards were too wide, given the competitive nature of rounds four through ten. “I respect Bud’s skill, but those scores don’t add up,” Canelo said. “Something’s wrong.” Past controversies, such as questionable judging in Canelo’s fights against Gennadiy Golovkin, fueled speculation, with one X user posting, “Canelo’s been robbed before. Is this another fix? #BoxingScandal.”

Crawford’s Response and the Saudi Connection

Crawford, reached for comment via his team, dismissed Canelo’s claims as “sour grapes.” “I fought clean, outboxed him, and won fair,” Crawford said in a statement. “Canelo’s a legend, but he can’t handle losing. No excuses needed—I’m the champ.” Crawford’s camp pointed to his superior punch output (115-99 total punches landed) and defensive mastery, arguing the victory was undeniable.

The mention of Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has added fuel to the scandal. Alalshikh, who orchestrated the fight through his partnership with Zuffa Boxing and UFC’s Dana White, was booed by the Las Vegas crowd, hinting at unease with his growing influence in boxing. Canelo’s vague reference to “money” has sparked theories on X, with one user posting, “Saudi cash rigged this for Crawford? Canelo’s onto something #Fix.” Others defended Alalshikh, noting his role in securing Canelo a reported $100 million purse. “Canelo took the money, now he’s crying foul? Hypocrite,” one tweet read.

The Boxing World Reacts

The allegations have divided the boxing community. Analyst Teddy Atlas, who praised Crawford’s performance, called Canelo’s claims “disappointing.” “Bud was sharper, smarter, faster. Canelo’s just deflecting,” Atlas said on ESPN. Conversely, former champion Andre Ward backed Canelo’s concerns, stating, “I saw some questionable calls in there. Boxing’s got to clean this up.” On X, fans are split, with #CaneloExposed trending alongside #CrawfordCheated, amassing millions of views. One post read, “Canelo’s right—Crawford held too much, ref ignored it #JusticeForCanelo.” Another countered, “Bud’s a genius, Canelo’s just mad he got schooled #TeamCrawford.”

The Nevada Athletic Commission, which oversaw the fight, has not commented on Canelo’s accusations but confirmed it is reviewing complaints about the officiating. A source told The Athletic that any evidence of corruption would trigger a full investigation, though no concrete proof has surfaced.

What’s Next for Canelo and Crawford?

Canelo’s explosive claims have reignited calls for a rematch, with fans and analysts debating whether he can reclaim his titles. “I’m not done,” Canelo vowed. “I’ll fight him again and expose the truth.” Crawford, now the first male boxer to win undisputed titles in three weight classes, dismissed rematch talk, saying, “I beat him once, I’ll do it again.” Promoters, including Alalshikh, are reportedly exploring a sequel, with Netflix eyeing another blockbuster event.

The scandal has also raised broader questions about boxing’s integrity. With Saudi-backed events reshaping the sport, Canelo’s accusations could force a reckoning over transparency and officiating. “If there’s corruption, we need to root it out,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Canelo’s not one to make empty claims.”

A Sport in Crisis

Canelo Alvarez’s shocking allegations against Terence Crawford and the officiating of their September 13, 2025, fight have blown the lid off a potential referee corruption scandal, threatening to tarnish one of boxing’s greatest moments. As the boxing world grapples with divided loyalties—Team Canelo versus Team Crawford—the truth remains elusive. Was Crawford’s victory a masterclass or a masterplan? Canelo’s fight for redemption, both in and out of the ring, has just begun, and the world is watching, stunned by a scandal that could change boxing forever. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.