It’s been over two weeks since Terence Crawford made history. So much happened during that time period. To honor his epic victory over Canelo Alvarez, a parade was organized in his hometown of Omaha. Controversy erupted when police stopped him, alleging reckless driving. Still, the overall mood is that of celebration. Crawford is now rightfully hailed as an all-time great.

But his biggest career victory continues to face scrutiny. Reports have emerged that Canelo Alvarez will undergo surgery to treat his elbow injury. The procedure will likely put him out of the ring for the next 5-6 months. However, as the news circulated, many fans couldn’t restrain their emotions. A few promptly connected it to his recent loss.

Canelo set for elbow surgery; comeback timeline unclear

“Canelo Alvarez is undergoing elbow surgery and will not return to the ring until mid-to-late 2026,” a post from Happy Punch read. He still has two more fights to fulfill under the Riyadh Season contract. So per the earlier schedule, the Mexican superstar was supposed to fight in February.

To set the record straight, hand injuries had been troubling Canelo for some time. They emerged after the Caleb Plant fight of 2021. Finally, a year later, following the trilogy bout against Gennady Golovkin, he underwent surgery to treat his wrist. Still, he returned for his regular Cinco de Mayo fixture opposite John Ryder.

What may trouble a few diehards is how the report could be misused by a scrupulous few to downplay Terence Crawford‘s achievement. Though matching Canelo physically, he moved across divisions to chase his dream of becoming an undisputed champion for the third time. And he achieved it with a superb performance where he outboxed Canelo in the pocket, long regarded as the Mexican’s strong point.

Let’s check what some of the users had to say.

All eyes on Stoic Canelo

To this fan, Canelo’s conduct deserved full respect. “Buddy fought Bivol and the 3rd fight with GGG with a bad wrist, got surgery after then fought Crawford with a bad elbow and didn’t complain. “Respect,” they said. While one may consider a fighter’s injury, timing it with a fight demands a hard look.

The next, however, brought home an emerging narrative: “Dude is a legend of this sport. People disregarding his entire career cause he lost to Crawford. Crazy…” Few would dispute that Terence Crawford stands at the center of boxing today. But to downplay Canelo’s contributions on the basis of a loss?

Another user connected the dots. “Well, that explains a lot as to why he wasn’t throwing any punches,” they said. To many fans, it may appear like hiding behind a bitter truth. Terence Crawford won the fight fair and square. Canelo Alvarez simply failed to reply when the Nebraskan raised some tough questions.

This fan echoed a sentiment that has been gaining traction. “Time to retire, my boi, and everyone knows Prime Canelo KOs Bud 🔥. “Easy work,” they said. Many have now started saying it openly. Considering the years he’s spent in boxing — the big fights and his achievements — there’s nothing much left for Canelo to prove.

Still, admiration for Canelo continued. This user said, “The fact that Canelo didn’t even bring this up and gave Crawford all the credit after the loss shows why he’s a legend. Most other guys would’ve instantly brought up an injury in the post-fight interviews. Canelo didn’t even mention or hint at it.”

But is it justified?

Barring a few rounds, Terence Crawford dominated the headliner at Allegiant Stadium. Canelo was the younger fighter facing a 38-year-old veteran who climbed up two weight classes. There’s no denying what Canelo has achieved and what he did for boxing over the years. But to associate his injury with his loss remains uncalled-for.

Do you think it will be good for Canelo to go through a tune-up before he takes a big fight when he returns next year?