Terence Crawford has confirmed the end of his boxing career, announcing retirement at age 38 with a perfect 42-0 professional record intact. The news came Tuesday through a social media video posted three months after his commanding September performance against Canelo Álvarez.
The Álvarez victory in Las Vegas sealed Crawford’s incredible legacy, as he delivered a boxing masterclass to win the undisputed super middleweight championship by unanimous decision. The performance against such elite competition provided the perfect finale to a career that redefined excellence in multiple weight divisions.
In announcing his retirement, Crawford emphasized the personal importance of making the decision himself. He discussed the deeper motivations that sustained his incredible career—proving doubters wrong repeatedly, supporting his family, representing Nebraska proudly, and achieving the dreams of his younger self.
The southpaw made his professional debut in 2008 and captured his first world title in 2014 by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight championship. His technical mastery and exceptional ring intelligence allowed him to systematically conquer five weight divisions, demonstrating versatility that few fighters in history have matched.
Crawford retires with exceptional credentials: 42 victories without defeat, 31 by knockout, 18 world titles in five weight classes, never being knocked down, and holding three super middleweight belts (WBA, IBF, WBO). His perfect record includes the extraordinary achievement that every win came by stoppage or unanimous decision, with no judge ever scoring against him in any fight throughout his entire professional career.
