Terence Crawford has brought his illustrious boxing career to a close, announcing retirement at age 38 with a spotless 42-0 professional record. The announcement came Tuesday through an emotional social media video, three months after his September masterclass against Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas.
The Álvarez fight stands as the crowning jewel of Crawford’s career, as he systematically dominated the Mexican superstar to win the undisputed super middleweight championship by unanimous decision. The performance exemplified everything Crawford brought to boxing and provided the perfect bookend to his illustrious career.
Crawford’s retirement statement focused on the personal satisfaction of leaving by choice. He reflected on a career driven not by external validation but by internal motivation—the need to silence critics, support his family, represent Nebraska proudly, and honor the dreams of his childhood self.
After making his professional debut in 2008, Crawford established himself as an exceptional talent. His first world championship came in 2014 with a victory over Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title, launching a historic run that saw him conquer five different weight divisions and establish himself among boxing’s all-time elite.
Crawford’s final statistics are extraordinary: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, never knocked down, and currently 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 one judge ever scoring in favor of any opponent throughout his entire career.