Boxing says goodbye to premier champion Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with an immaculate 42-0 professional record. The announcement arrived via social media video, marking the end of a career that established him as one of the sport’s premier champions.
Crawford’s September performance against Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas will be remembered as the defining moment of his status as a premier champion. The unanimous decision victory secured the undisputed super middleweight championship and showcased his complete mastery of boxing fundamentals.
In his retirement message, Crawford stressed the satisfaction of leaving by choice. He reflected on a career driven by the need to silence critics repeatedly, while fighting for his family, his Nebraska community, and the dreams of the ambitious boy who started with nothing but determination.
Crawford began his professional career in 2008 and claimed his first world title in 2014 with a victory over Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His southpaw stance and premier technique allowed him to dominate five different weight divisions, establishing himself as boxing’s pound-for-pound best.
The career statistics are exceptional: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles across five weight classes, never knocked down, and holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). Crawford’s perfect record includes the distinction that every victory came by stoppage or unanimous decision, with not a single judge ever ruling in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire professional career.