Boxing Legend Terence Crawford Retires Undefeated: The End of an Era
Historic Retirement Announcement Shakes Boxing World
The No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world is hanging up his gloves — Terence Crawford just announced his retirement from the sport. Crawford announced his retirement from the sport on Tuesday evening with a perfect 42-0-0 record, with 31 wins coming by way of knockout. The 38-year-old champion from Omaha, Nebraska, made the stunning revelation via social media and YouTube, bringing an end to one of boxing’s most decorated careers.
An Unparalleled Legacy in Modern Boxing
A five-division champion in his career, Crawford held the title of undisputed champion at junior welterweight, welterweight and super middleweight — the first male fighter in the four-belt era to accomplish such a feat. Crawford has held 18 major world championships across five weight classes: lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, junior middleweight and super middleweight. Only Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya claimed world titles in more weight classes than Crawford, who was a perfect 20-0 (15 KOs) in title fights.
A Champion’s Farewell Message
In his emotional retirement video, Crawford reflected on his journey and motivations. “Not money. Not headlines. But that feeling, that one you get when the world doubts you, but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong,” Crawford said. In a post on X, he said he was “walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove”. The champion expressed gratitude for a sport that gave him everything, crediting his family, team, city and fans for supporting him throughout his remarkable career.
From Omaha to Boxing Immortality
Fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford made his professional debut in 2008 after falling short in his bid to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. His path to greatness was marked by persistence and excellence. Notable victories throughout his career included dominant wins over British fighters Kell Brook, Amir Khan and Ricky Burns, as well as his highly anticipated 2023 showdown against Errol Spence Jr, which many consider his breakthrough performance against elite opposition.
What This Means for Boxing’s Future
Boxing retirements always come with an asterisk as we’ve seen countless fighters lured back to the ring, but at this moment, Crawford walks away from the sport on top, with no mountains left to climb. As he notes in his video, the chase was always what drove him in the ring, and having reached the summit he feels it’s time to step away and live life outside of boxing. For boxing fans, Crawford’s departure marks the end of a golden era. His technical brilliance, switch-hitting ability, and undefeated record cement his status as one of the greatest fighters of his generation, leaving an indelible mark on the sport’s history.