The boxing world bids farewell to Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with a spotless 42-0 professional record. The announcement arrived via social media video, marking the end of one of the sport’s most dominant careers in recent memory.
Crawford’s September showdown with Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas served as the ideal capstone to his career. The unanimous decision victory gave him the undisputed super middleweight championship and proved he could defeat the biggest names in boxing at the highest level, even in the twilight of his career.
The retirement video showcased Crawford’s emotional depth as he discussed the true meaning of his career accomplishments. Beyond the titles and accolades, he spoke about fighting for validation and respect, representing his family and hometown with pride, and achieving the dreams of the young boy from Nebraska who had limited resources but unlimited ambition.
Crawford’s professional journey began in 2008, and within six years he had claimed his first world championship by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight belt. His southpaw stance and technical precision made him a formidable opponent, and he methodically moved through weight divisions, collecting titles and establishing himself among boxing’s pound-for-pound elite.
Crawford retires with extraordinary credentials: 42 consecutive victories, 31 by knockout, 18 world titles in five weight divisions, never knocked down, and currently holding three super middleweight belts (WBA, IBF, WBO) after being stripped of the WBC title. Every single one of his 42 wins came via stoppage or unanimous decision, with the remarkable distinction that no judge ever scored a round in favor of any opponent he faced—a testament to his complete dominance.