Shocking! Canelo Álvarez launches a bomb after losing all his titles against Terence Crawford: “I was forced to lose against him”

In an explosive revelation that has shaken the world of boxing, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez launched a devastating accusation after his defeat by unanimous decision before Terence “Bud” Crawford on September 13, 2025 at the Allegiant Stadium of Las Vegas. In an exclusive interview withESPN sportsOn September 19, 2025 at 12:01 AM PDT (4:01 PM ICT), Canelo said: “I was forced to lose against him.” The statement, loaded with external manipulation insinuations, has unleashed a storm of speculation, especially after the recent controversies about Crawford’s doping and the accusations of partiality of referee Thomas Taylor. With the world of boxing in suspense, the Canelo bomb promises to redefine the narrative of one of the greatest fights in history.

The fight that changed everything

The confrontation between Canelo Álvarez (63-3-2, 39 kos) and Terence Crawford (42-0, 31 kos) was promoted as the event of the century, attracting 70,482 fans in the stadium and more than 41 million spectators in Netflix. Crawford, uploading two weight categories, surpassed Canelo with speed and precision, winning by unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) and snatching the supermedian weight titles of the AMB, CMB, OMB, IBF and The Ring. The victory turned Crawford into the first male boxer to achieve undisputed champion status into three divisions in the era of the four belts. However, Canelo’s defeat, his third in his career, has been eclipsed by controversies that now culminate in his shocking accusation.

The Canelo bomb: Forced to lose?

In the interview withESPN sports, Canelo, visibly frustrated, dropped a bomb: “I was forced to lose against him. It wasn’t just a fight in the ring; there were things out of my control.” When he was asked to clarify, Canelo hinted external pressures without giving specific names: “Some people wanted Crawford as the new king. I felt that I did not fight only against him, but against a whole system.” His statement has fed speculation about possible manipulations, especially in the light of two parallel scandals: Crawford’s positive for a prohibited substance and the admission of partiality of referee Thomas Taylor.

Canelo also pointed out controversial decisions during the fight, as a warning without deduction of points for an alleged blow low in the sixth assault and questionable pauses of the referee who interrupted his rhythm. “I knew something was not right,” he said. “My blows were stronger, but it didn’t matter. Everything was determined in advance.” The video of the interview, shared in X, exploded with more than 20 million views, triggering the hashtags #canelorobado and #boxeocorrupto, which accumulated 12 million interactions.

Scandals that aggravate the controversy

Canelo’s statement comes at a critical moment. On September 17, the Nevada Athletic Commission confirmed that Crawford tested positive for a synthetic testosterone derivative, which could result in a suspension of two years and the loss of its titles. In addition, referee Thomas Taylor admitted in a video filtered by the AMB on September 18 that favored Crawford intentionally, citing pressures to crown a “new king.” The previous accusations of Manny Pacquiao about an alleged bribery to Judge Max Deluca have added more firewood to the fire, with evidence that includes text messages and bank records under investigation.

The combination of these scandals has given credibility to Canelo’s statements. “If the referee and the judges were against me, and now we know that Crawford used substances, how can I believe it was a fair fight?” Canelo asked. His legal team, led by lawyer Ricardo Castañeda, has submitted a formal request to the AMB, CMB, OMB and IBF to declare the fight as non-contemplated and restore the titles to Canelo.

Boxing world reactions

The boxing community is divided. The promoter Eddie Hearn supported Canelo, stating: “If Canelo says he was forced to lose, I believe him. This scandal is a shame for sport.” On the other hand, the Crawford team rejected the accusations as “excuses of a bad loser.” Crawford coach Brian McIntyre said: “Bud won cleanly. Canelo cannot accept that he was overcome.” Crawford tweeted: “I did not control the referee or take anything illegal. Canelo, cool me again #budthegoat.”

In X, fans are inflamed. “Canelo was stolen! The referee and doping are confirmed by #JusticiaParacanelo,” a user wrote. Another defended Crawford: “Canelo is crying because he lost. Bud is the best, point #teamcrawford.” The controversy has generated comparisons with historical scandals, such as the Holyfield vs. fight. Tyson in 1997, with analysts warning that boxing credibility is at stake.

Ongoing research and possible consequences

The Nevada Athletic Commission is accelerating its investigation, scheduled for September 22, 2025, which will address both Crawford’s positive for prohibited substances and Taylor’s confession on partiality. The AMB has indicated that a non-contest decision could cancel Crawford’s victory, returning the titles to Canelo or leaving them vacant. A failure in favor of Canelo could pave the way for a rematch in 2026, which analysts ofBoxing NewsThey predict that it would break income records, exceeding 500 million dollars of the first fight.

The Saudi Turki Al-Sheikh financier, who organized the fight, faces scrutiny, although there is no direct evidence that links it to the controversy. “We want the truth,” Al-Sheikh said in a statement. “Boxing must be clean.” The proposals to reform the sport, including stricter anti -doping tests and score assisted by AI, are gaining strength in the middle of chaos.

A sport at the crossroads

Canelo Álvarez’s shocking statement that he was “forced to lose” against Terence Crawford has raised an already controversial fight to a historical crisis for boxing. With Crawford’s doping, the referee’s confession and accusations of external manipulation, the integrity of the sport is in question. While the investigation of the Nevada Athletic Commission is approaching, the world expects answers: was Canelo victim of a corrupt system, or is this the last excuse of a fallen champion? Follow the drama in X and keep up to the updates while this explosive saga develops.