Terence Crawford has brought his boxing career to a close, announcing retirement at 38 with an unblemished 42-0 professional record. The revelation came Tuesday through a social media video, three months after his September masterclass against Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas.
The Álvarez victory stands as the crowning jewel of Crawford’s career, with the Nebraska native delivering a boxing clinic to capture the undisputed super middleweight championship by unanimous decision. The performance against such elite opposition provided the perfect final chapter to a career built on excellence and dominance.
Crawford’s retirement announcement emphasized the personal satisfaction of making the decision himself. He spoke movingly about the motivations that sustained him throughout his career—proving critics wrong repeatedly, supporting his family, representing his Nebraska community with pride, and fulfilling the ambitious dreams of his youth.
After turning professional in 2008, Crawford quickly established himself as an elite talent. His first world championship came in 2014 with a victory over Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title, launching a historic run that saw him conquer five weight divisions and build one of boxing’s most impressive legacies.
The final numbers are extraordinary: 42 wins without loss, 31 by knockout, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, never being knocked down, and currently holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). Crawford’s perfect record includes the distinction that every single victory came via stoppage or unanimous decision, with not a single judge ever ruling in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire professional career.