Terence Crawford has announced his shock retirement from boxing, just three months after his legacy-defining win over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Most of the boxing world felt the 38-year-old American would rematch Canelo in 2026, but ‘Bud’ has chosen to retire, saying he “has nothing left to prove.”
Crawford retires as arguably the greatest boxer of the current era, and one of the best of all time with a perfect 42-0 record and as the only male fighter to become three-weight undisputed world champion in the four-belt era.
“Every fighter knows this moment will come, you just don’t know when,” he said in a video posted to his YouTube channel.
“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines, but that feeling. The one you get when the world doubts you, but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.
“This sport gave me everything. I fought for my family, I fought for my city, I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves.
“And I did it all my way.”
After winning world titles at lightweight and super-lightweight, Crawford moved up to welterweight in 2018, where he challenged then-WBO world champion, Aussie hero Jeff Horn.
Less than a year after his shock victory over Manny Pacquiao, Horn promised to use the same mongrel to defend his title, but the switch-hitting Crawford was too crafty and elusive.
“I just couldn’t get on him, his skill in boxing is very good,” Horn said at the time. “He’s very cagey, and he can throw a good, solid punch.”
A native of Nebraska, Crawford won titles in five weight classes, and became undisputed at super-lightweight, welterweight and super-middleweight.
Even before his decisive win over Canelo, Crawford was considered one of this generation’s best, with blockbuster wins over Errol Spence, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan and Victor Postol.
Crawford was in Australia in May, spending a week in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne right before starting training camp for his blockbuster against Canelo in September.
His one-sided decision win over Canelo – another of this generation’s greats – is undoubtedly his crowning achievement.
“I gave this sport every breathe I have,” he said. “Every scar, every triumph, every ounce of my heart.
“And I’ve made peace with what’s next.
“Now, it’s time. Thank you to my opponents who pushed me to places I didn’t know I could go, to the fans who believed in me when they didn’t have to. You made this journey something I’ll carry with pride for the rest of my life.
“To my haters and people who didn’t believe in me, without you, without having that fire in my gut to prove you wrong, you pushed me to heights I never thought I’d reach.”
Originally published as American Terence Crawford makes shock retirement call
