The boxing world mourns the departure of Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with an unblemished 42-0 professional record. The revelation came via social media video, bringing closure to a glorious career that spanned three decades and five weight divisions.
Crawford’s September showdown with Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas will be remembered as the perfect conclusion to his glorious career. The unanimous decision victory secured the undisputed super middleweight championship and demonstrated Crawford’s ability to perform at the highest level against the sport’s biggest names.
In his retirement message, Crawford emphasized the personal significance of leaving on his own terms. He reflected on a career motivated not by fame or fortune but by the need to prove himself repeatedly, while fighting for his family, his Nebraska hometown, and the dreams of the ambitious boy he once was.
The southpaw turned professional in 2008 and captured his first world title in 2014 by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His technical mastery and tactical brilliance allowed him to systematically conquer five weight divisions, establishing himself as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite.
Crawford retires with exceptional statistics: 42 victories without loss, 31 by knockout, 18 world titles in five weight classes, never being knocked down, and currently holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). His perfect record includes the extraordinary fact that every single victory came via stoppage or unanimous decision, with not one judge ever scoring in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire career.