Boxing says goodbye to one of its modern masters as Terence Crawford confirms his retirement with a flawless 42-0 professional record. The champion made the announcement on Tuesday through a heartfelt video message posted to social media, closing the book on a career that spanned nearly two decades.
Crawford’s September conquest of Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas served as the perfect finale to his boxing story. The unanimous decision victory secured the undisputed super middleweight championship and demonstrated that even in his late 30s, Crawford remained at the peak of his powers against elite competition.
The retirement announcement showcased Crawford’s reflective side as he discussed the deeper meaning of his career. Rather than focusing solely on achievements, he emphasized the personal battles he won—the ability to prove skeptics wrong, support his family, represent his city, and fulfill the dreams of his younger self who had nothing but ambition and determination.
Crawford’s professional career launched in 2008, and within six years he had captured his first world championship by defeating Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title. His southpaw stance and technical brilliance made him a nightmare matchup for opponents, and he systematically moved through weight divisions, collecting titles and building an unprecedented winning streak.
The numbers tell the story of complete supremacy: 42 victories without a single loss or draw, 31 wins by knockout, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, and never being knocked down. Crawford holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO super middleweight belts, having been stripped of the WBC title in a fee dispute. Most impressive is that every fight ended either in stoppage or with judges unanimously in his favor—no opponent ever won a round on any judge’s scorecard throughout his entire career.