Terence Crawford beating Canelo Álvarez last fall was already the kind of result that changes the temperature around a fighter. Now it has another layer of recognition attached to it: Crawford is among the nominees for the 2026 ESPY Awards Best Fighter award, a fan-voted race that throws boxing and UFC names into the same ring for attention.
That matters because this is not just a polite nod to a big night. It is a reminder that Crawford’s victory over Canelo Álvarez unified the super middleweight titles and pushed him into a conversation that stretches beyond one result. When a win over a name like Canelo turns into award-season currency, it tells you the performance carried weight well outside the usual boxing echo chamber.
A fan vote, a big field, and a clear statement
The Best Fighter category is not reserved for one sport, either. The 2026 ESPY Awards field includes athletes from both UFC and boxing, which makes the nomination more interesting than a simple highlight reel trophy chase. Crawford is in there on merit, but he is also in there because the win over Canelo Álvarez has stayed relevant long after the last bell.
The 2026 ESPY Awards are scheduled to air on Wednesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and the App. That gives the whole thing a neat, televised finish, but the real story is the shortlist itself. Fan-voted awards are always a little messy, because popularity and achievement do not always line up cleanly. Still, Crawford’s case is straightforward: he did the thing, and he did it against the kind of opponent that forces people to pay attention.
In a field that mixes boxing and UFC names, the nomination also underlines how wide the Best Fighter label can stretch. But Crawford’s presence is the one that jumps out, because it is built on a specific, verified statement of intent: last fall, he defeated Canelo Álvarez to unify the super middleweight titles. That is not fluff. That is the sort of win that makes an award nomination feel less like ceremony and more like acknowledgement.
There is always room to argue about fan voting, especially when different combat sports are being compared as if they live on the same exact scoreboard. But Crawford’s inclusion is difficult to quibble with. The victory over Canelo Álvarez was significant then, and this nomination is proof it still is now.
