Terence Crawford has confirmed the end of his boxing career, announcing retirement at age 38 with an immaculate 42-0 professional record. The news came Tuesday through a social media video posted three months after his commanding September performance against Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas.
The Álvarez victory showcased Crawford at his absolute best, as he delivered a boxing masterclass to win the undisputed super middleweight championship by unanimous decision. The performance cemented the Nebraska native’s legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats and provided the ideal conclusion to his career.
Crawford’s retirement announcement revealed the personal philosophy that guided his decision. He spoke about leaving on his own terms as a victory in itself, and reflected on a career driven by the need to silence doubters while fighting for his family, his community, and his childhood dreams.
The southpaw made his professional debut in 2008 and captured his first world title in 2014 by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His technical prowess and southpaw stance proved too much for opponents across five weight divisions, as he methodically built one of boxing’s most impressive records.
Crawford’s career concludes with extraordinary statistics: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, never knocked down, and holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). His perfect record includes the distinction that every single victory came via stoppage or unanimous decision, with not a single judge ever ruling in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire career.
Photo by MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME, via wikimedia commons
