why did crawford return the belts

Terence Crawford returned the championship belts to Canelo Alvarez as a profound gesture of respect and sportsmanship. Although Crawford won the fight and became the undisputed super middleweight champion by unanimous decision, he handed back the physical belts to Canelo during the post-fight press conference. This act honored Canelo's long reign as champion and recognized his impact on the sport. It is also a boxing tradition wherein new champions allow former champions to hold the belts temporarily for photo opportunities or as a sign of honor. Crawford himself mentioned that the belts don't define the legacy, and he will receive his own official belts from the organization later. This gesture symbolized that while they are fierce rivals in the ring, they are colleagues who respect each other outside it. Additionally, returning the belts could help Crawford avoid being tied down by sanctioning body politics for future mega fights. Overall, it was a statement that legacy matters more than hardware.