Terence Crawford Defeats Errol Spence Jr by Unanimous Decision to Unify Welterweight Titles at MGM Grand

Terence Crawford cemented his legacy as one of boxings pound-for-pound greats on Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena, defeating Errol Spence Jr by unanimous decision to become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. The 36-year-old Crawford was masterful throughout the 12-round encounter, using his superior boxing IQ and adaptability to outclass the previously undefeated Spence while claiming all four major welterweight titles in the most significant fight of the 2026 boxing calendar.

The long-awaited superfight began with both fighters showing mutual respect while attempting to establish their preferred fighting ranges in front of a capacity crowd of 20,000 fight fans who had waited years for this matchup to finally materialize. Spence appeared comfortable early, using his size and reach advantages to control the center of the ring while landing clean shots to both the head and body of the crafty Nebraska native. However, Crawford was clearly studying his opponent, making subtle adjustments while waiting for the perfect opportunity to implement his game plan.

The turning point came in the middle rounds when Crawford began switching seamlessly between orthodox and southpaw stances, creating angles and confusion that left Spence struggling to mount any sustained offensive pressure. Crawfords superior hand speed and precision became increasingly evident as the fight progressed, with his body shots proving particularly effective in slowing down Spences aggressive approach. The crowd at MGM Grand was treated to a boxing clinic as Crawford demonstrated why many consider him the most complete fighter in the sport.

Spence fought valiantly throughout the championship rounds, showing the heart and determination that had carried him through previous title fights against elite opposition. However, Crawford was simply operating at a different level, consistently finding openings while making Spence miss with subtle head movement and defensive positioning. The final rounds belonged entirely to Crawford, who appeared to get stronger as the fight progressed while Spence showed signs of the accumulated punishment he had absorbed throughout the contest.

The scorecards reflected Crawfords dominance, with all three judges scoring the fight 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112 in favor of the new undisputed champion. Crawfords emotional celebration reflected both the personal satisfaction of achieving undisputed status and recognition of how long this moment had taken to arrive. His corner was ecstatic as they realized their fighter had just accomplished something that few boxers ever achieve in the modern era of multiple sanctioning bodies.

For Spence, the defeat was his first as a professional but cannot diminish what has been an exceptional career that saw him capture three of the four major welterweight titles while establishing himself as one of the divisions premier fighters. The Texas native was gracious in defeat, acknowledging Crawfords superior performance while expressing determination to return to championship level. As Crawford stood in the center of the MGM Grand ring holding all four championship belts, the boxing world was reminded that they had just witnessed a masterclass from one of the sports most complete and technically gifted fighters. The undisputed welterweight championship represents the pinnacle of Crawfords career while establishing him firmly among the elite pound-for-pound fighters in the world today.