The boxing world mourns the departure of Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with an immaculate 42-0 professional record. The revelation arrived via social media video, bringing closure to a career that redefined excellence across multiple weight divisions.
Crawford’s September performance against Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas will be remembered as a masterpiece of boxing artistry. The unanimous decision victory gave him the undisputed super middleweight championship and demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest level against the sport’s biggest stars, providing the ideal conclusion to his time in the ring.
In his retirement announcement, Crawford emphasized the personal significance of making the decision himself rather than having circumstances dictate his future. He reflected on a career motivated by the need to prove himself repeatedly while fighting for his family, his Nebraska community, and the dreams of the young boy who started with nothing but ambition.
Crawford turned professional in 2008 and secured his first world title in 2014 by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His southpaw stance and technical brilliance allowed him to systematically conquer five weight divisions over the following decade, building a legacy that places him among boxing’s all-time elite.
The final statistics are remarkable: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world championships spanning five weight classes, never knocked down, and holding three super middleweight titles (WBA, IBF, WBO). Crawford’s perfect record includes the extraordinary achievement that every win came by stoppage or unanimous decision, with no judge ever scoring in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire professional career.
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