Terence Crawford has brought his storied boxing career to a close, announcing retirement at age 38 with a flawless 42-0 professional record. The revelation came Tuesday through a social media video, three months after his September victory over Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas.
The Álvarez fight stands as the defining moment of Crawford’s career, with the Nebraska native systematically outclassing the Mexican superstar to capture the undisputed super middleweight championship by unanimous decision. The performance demonstrated why Crawford is considered one of boxing’s all-time elite.
In announcing his retirement, Crawford emphasized the importance of leaving by choice. He reflected on a career driven not by external rewards but by internal motivation—the need to silence critics, support his family, represent his Nebraska roots, and fulfill the dreams of his younger self who started with nothing.
Crawford turned professional in 2008 and captured his first world title in 2014 by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His southpaw stance and technical mastery allowed him to conquer five different weight divisions, adapting his style to overcome every challenge and build an unprecedented legacy.
The career statistics are extraordinary: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, never knocked down, and holding three super middleweight belts (WBA, IBF, WBO). Crawford’s perfect record includes the extraordinary fact that every win came by stoppage or unanimous decision, with no judge ever scoring against him in any round of any fight throughout his entire professional career.