Nebraska’s Finest Crawford Retires Unbeaten After Historic Run

The boxing world bids farewell to Terence Crawford, who announced his retirement Tuesday at age 38 with a spotless 42-0 professional record. The announcement arrived via social media video, marking the end of a career that saw him dominate multiple weight divisions over nearly two decades.
Crawford’s September showdown with Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas will be remembered as a defining moment in modern boxing. The unanimous decision victory secured the undisputed super middleweight championship and demonstrated Crawford’s ability to perform at the highest level even in his late 30s, providing the perfect conclusion to his career.
In his retirement message, Crawford emphasized the personal victory of leaving on his own terms, having won what he called a different kind of battle. He spoke candidly about the motivations that sustained him throughout his career—proving doubters wrong, supporting his family, representing Nebraska with pride, and achieving the dreams of the young boy who started with nothing.
Crawford’s professional journey began in 2008, and by 2014 he had captured his first world championship with a victory over Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title. His southpaw stance and technical mastery allowed him to systematically conquer five weight divisions, adapting his style to overcome every challenge and establish himself among boxing’s elite.
The final numbers are historic: 42 consecutive victories, 31 knockouts, 18 world titles spanning five weight classes, never knocked down, and holding three super middleweight championships (WBA, IBF, WBO). Crawford’s perfect record includes the distinction that every win came by stoppage or unanimous decision, with no judge ever scoring against him in any fight throughout his entire career—a testament to his complete dominance.