Who won between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez? Here's how the fight went
The Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez showdown, famously billed as The One, took place on Sept. 14, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena within the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 12-round bout, contested at a 152-pound catchweight (two pounds below the light middleweight limit), is one of the most iconic and remains among the top three highest-grossing pay-per-view boxing events to this day. However, many combat sports fans remain unaware of the details and outcome of the fight.
Who won between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez?
From the opening bell, it became clear that Floyd Mayweather's experience and skill would be too much for the 23-year-old Canelo Alvarez. The first few rounds saw Mayweather employ his trademark defensive tactics, using quick footwork and sharp jabs to frustrate Alvarez, who struggled to land meaningful punches. Despite the moments of success, particularly with body shots, Canelo was unable to penetrate his opponent's defenses consistently.
Mayweather's strategy was evident—control the pace, dictate the distance and capitalize on Alvarez's inexperience. As the fight progressed, the American's dominance grew more apparent. In the fourth round, Mayweather's precise jabs caused swelling around Alvarez's eye, and by the seventh round, 'Money' was putting on a clinic, landing combinations, and counterpunches that kept the Mexican on the defensive.
While Alvarez showed flashes of his potential, landing solid shots and displaying resilience, he was outclassed by the now-legendary boxer, who delivered a masterclass in the ring. The later rounds saw 'Money' firmly in control, as Canelo's fatigue became more apparent, and his attempts to turn the tide were met with swift counterattacks.
In the end, the undefeated boxer added one more win as he secured a majority decision victory, with the judges scoring the fight 114–114 (C.J. Ross), 116–112 (Dave Moretti), and 117–111 (Craig Metcalfe) in his favor. Despite the draw score by one judge, it was clear to most observers that Floyd Mayweather had decisively won.
This defeat was one of only two setbacks in Canelo's 65-fight professional career and likely served as a pivotal moment in his journey. It propelled him to later become the only boxer to achieve the title of undisputed champion in the super middleweight division.