The boxing world bids farewell to distinguished champion Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with a spotless 42-0 professional record. The revelation came via an emotional social media video, three months after his September triumph over Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas.
Crawford’s final performance against Álvarez showcased his distinguished career, as he controlled every aspect of the bout to win the undisputed super middleweight championship by unanimous decision. The victory over such high-profile opposition provided the ideal conclusion to a distinguished career that spanned nearly two decades.
Crawford’s retirement statement revealed a fighter at peace with his distinguished accomplishments. He spoke about leaving on his own terms as a personal victory, and reflected on what made his career distinguished—proving skeptics wrong repeatedly, supporting his family, representing his Nebraska roots, and fulfilling his childhood dreams.
After making his professional debut in 2008, Crawford established himself as a distinguished talent. His first world championship came in 2014 with a victory over Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title, launching a distinguished period that saw him conquer five different weight divisions with systematic precision.
Crawford’s career concludes with historic statistics: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, never being knocked down, and currently holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). His perfect record includes the distinction that every single victory came via stoppage or unanimous decision, with not one judge ever scoring in favor of any opponent he faced throughout his entire professional career.
Photo by MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME, via wikimedia commons
