In Nebraska, where football pride often defines the state, another kind of champion captured the spotlight. When Omaha-born boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford achieved a historic victory, Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule was quick to celebrate the moment.
Rhule’s five-word message highlighted the powerful connection between two figures who embody the state’s fierce competitive spirit.
How Did Terence Crawford and Matt Rhule Forge a Nebraska Bond?
In the buildup to his fight with Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford’s words were as sharp as his punches. During a heated press conference, Alvarez demanded, “Mention one elite fighter!”
Crawford, completely unfazed, shot back, “When I stomp a mudhole in your ass, are you gonna be a nobody?”
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Those words set the stage for Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where Crawford backed up his talk with the defining win of his career. Moving up two weight classes, the Omaha native earned a unanimous decision over Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion.
That victory put Crawford in a class of his own. In the four-belt era, which started in 2007, no male boxer had ever become the undisputed champion in three different divisions. Crawford now holds that unique distinction, adding the super middleweight crown to his previous titles at junior welterweight and welterweight.
He accomplished this feat after testing himself at 154 pounds in August 2024, when he defeated Israil Madrimov for the WBA junior middleweight title. Afterward, he spent a year building strength to challenge Alvarez.
Canelo’s reaction after getting caught by this nasty shot from Terence Crawford 😳
Even he couldn’t believe it 😂 #CaneloCrawford pic.twitter.com/RiVAdeS62L
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) September 14, 2025
For Alvarez, who is also a four-division champion, the outcome was his third professional loss. He previously lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in 2022. This defeat to Crawford snapped a six-fight winning streak.
Beyond the belts, the triumph resonated deeply in Nebraska, where Crawford has long been a symbol of perseverance. Rhule, who is leading his own rebuilding project with the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, highlighted that connection with a post on Instagram after the fight.
Sharing a photo of Crawford celebrating, Rhule wrote, “Anybody can be a Nobody,” echoing the boxer’s fiery retort to Alvarez.
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However, their bond runs deeper than just social media posts. In 2024, Crawford addressed the Huskers before a key game and even led them out of the tunnel onto the field. Following his speech, Nebraska defeated Colorado 28-10, a victory Rhule often uses as an example of the fighter’s inspirational impact.
Earlier this year, Rhule showed his support by attending Crawford’s send-off rally in Omaha, where he praised the boxer publicly.
“When he showed up last year to support our team… he showed us what it means to be Nebraskan, what it means to be a Husker,” Rhule told the crowd.
For Rhule and the state of Nebraska, Crawford’s latest victory was more than just another championship. It served as powerful proof that fiery words, when backed by relentless hard work, can forge a historic legacy.
