Canelo vs. Crawford: Will Judge Max DeLuca be this event’s “CJ Ross”?
By Joseph Herron
In boxing, controversy is as old as the sport itself. Few elements ignite heated debate more than the judges’ scorecards, particularly when they clash with what fans, fighters, and oddsmakers expected. One name that has repeatedly found itself at the center of such storms is veteran judge Max DeLuca.
Over the past decade, DeLuca has been ringside for some of the sport’s most high-profile fights, and several of his scorecards have drawn sharp criticism. What makes these moments especially fascinating is how they often contrast with the betting odds leading into the fight. When sportsbooks forecast one narrative and the official score tells another, fans are left wondering whether the fight they just watched unfolded in two different worlds.
Max DeLuca scored the bout even between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia despite Garcia scoring three knockdowns. Photo from Getty Images
Consider Devin Haney’s majority draw against Ryan Garcia in April 2024. Haney entered as a massive favorite, with odds ranging from –650 to –800. Garcia scored multiple knockdowns and appeared to many to have done enough to win comfortably. Yet DeLuca turned in a 112–112 scorecard, calling the fight even. For those who bet on the favorite, and for fans watching Garcia’s left hook repeatedly connect, the result felt baffling.
A similar storm surrounded Ruslan Provodnikov’s clash with Chris Algieri in 2014. The “Siberian Rocky” entered as a prohibitive favorite, priced between –600 and –750, and his early knockdowns seemed to confirm the line. DeLuca scored it 117–109 for Provodnikov, a wide tally that seemed out of step with Algieri’s spirited rally and the competitive feel of the fight. While the other judges leaned toward Algieri, DeLuca’s card stood apart.
From Julio César Chávez Jr.’s rematch with Brian Vera to Shawn Porter’s narrow win over Yordenis Ugas in 2019, DeLuca’s numbers have often sparked arguments. Porter, favored at around –350, won on DeLuca’s 115–113 card despite many believing Ugas had pressed the action and perhaps done enough to win. And as recently as 2025, in Manny Pacquiao’s comeback bout against Mario Barrios, DeLuca again raised eyebrows by being the lone judge to side with Barrios in what ended as a majority draw.
What unites these scorecards is not simply disagreement over rounds—it is the tension between market expectations and a judge’s perception under pressure. Odds represent collective wisdom, while scorecards reflect one set of eyes from one angle. When they diverge, especially under bright lights, the controversy only grows louder.
And now the spotlight sharpens once again. This Saturday, Terence Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Álvarez meet in a fight already being called one of the most significant of this era. Among the appointed officials is Max DeLuca. His presence raises an unavoidable question: Will he unknowingly, or unwillingly, favor the betting favorite when the rounds tighten and the crowd roars?
Fans remember the infamous names of CJ Ross and Adelaide Byrd—judges whose controversial tallies left indelible marks on boxing’s history.
Could Max DeLuca become the CJ Ross or Adelaide Byrd of this monumental matchup between Crawford and Canelo?
The betting markets have already taken their stand, but history reminds us that fights are not won on paper, nor at the sportsbook counter. They are won in the ring—and decided on the scorecards. Whether DeLuca delivers a fair reflection of what unfolds or adds another chapter to boxing’s long list of disputed judgments, only Saturday night will tell.
Joseph Herron is the creator of War A Week Boxing, and has been involved in boxing for over three decades.
