Crawford Calls Time on Perfect 42-0 Career After Canelo Victory

Terence Crawford has announced his retirement from professional boxing at age 38, walking away from the sport with an unblemished 42-0 record. The Nebraska native made his decision public through a social media video posted on Tuesday, three months after his stunning victory over Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas.
Crawford’s September triumph over the Mexican superstar saw him claim the undisputed super middleweight championship in what would become his final ring appearance. The dominant unanimous decision victory capped a career that spanned three decades and five weight divisions, cementing his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats.
In his retirement announcement, Crawford emphasized that he was leaving the sport on his own terms rather than waiting for decline to force his hand. He spoke candidly about the motivation that drove him throughout his career, describing it as a constant need to silence doubters and prove his worth. His journey from a kid with nothing but dreams and gloves to an undefeated champion represents one of boxing’s most inspiring success stories.
The southpaw’s professional journey began in 2008, and he captured his first world title six years later by defeating Scotland’s Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight crown. From there, Crawford systematically conquered division after division, accumulating an impressive 18 world titles across five weight classes. His technical brilliance and adaptability allowed him to dominate opponents at every level.
Crawford retires holding the WBA, IBF, and WBO super middleweight championships, though he was recently stripped of his WBC belt due to a sanctioning fee dispute. His perfect record includes 31 knockouts, and remarkably, he was never officially knocked down during his entire career. Every single one of his 42 victories came via unanimous decision or stoppage, with no judge ever scoring a round in favor of his opponents—a testament to his complete dominance in the ring.