Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Canelo Álvarez.
The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Álvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.
“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle,” Crawford said. “The one where you walk away on your own terms.”
Crawford (42-0, 31 knockouts) retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO super middleweight champion after defeating Álvarez by unanimous decision. He had also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month after a dispute over sanctioning fees.
Speaking in his video, Crawford said his career had been driven by a desire to keep “proving everyone wrong”. “Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when,” Crawford said. “I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.”
Crawford’s career spanned three decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008. He won 18 world titles in five weight classes, culminating in his win over Álvarez. He retires having never been officially knocked down in a fight, with all 42 victories coming by unanimous decision or stoppage.
