Boxing bids farewell to celebrated champion Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with an immaculate 42-0 professional record. The announcement arrived via social media video, marking the end of a celebrated career that spanned nearly two decades.
Crawford’s September performance against Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas will be celebrated as one of the great displays in modern boxing. The unanimous decision victory secured the undisputed super middleweight championship and showcased why Crawford earned his celebrated status in the sport.
In his retirement message, Crawford stressed the importance of leaving on his own terms. He reflected on what made his career celebrated—proving skeptics wrong repeatedly, supporting his family, representing his Nebraska hometown, and fulfilling the dreams of the ambitious boy he once was.
Crawford began his professional career in 2008 and claimed his first world title in 2014 with a victory over Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His southpaw stance and celebrated technique allowed him to dominate five different weight divisions, establishing himself as boxing’s pound-for-pound elite.
The career statistics are extraordinary: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles across five weight classes, never knocked down, and holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). Crawford’s perfect record includes the distinction that every victory came by stoppage or unanimous decision, with not a single judge ever ruling in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire professional career.