Undefeated Crawford retires: Five-division champion ends boxing career

Decision after historic victory

Crawford announced his retirement from boxing three months after a high-profile win over Saul Canelo Álvarez. The fight took place in Las Vegas, where the American claimed the super welterweight title via unanimous decision.

This victory cemented Crawford’s place in boxing history, as he became the first undisputed world champion in three different divisions during the four-belt era.

Champion's words on ending career

Explaining his decision, Crawford emphasized that he is leaving on his own terms.

''I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle, '' Crawford told The Guardian.

He added that this moment is inevitable for every athlete.

“Every fighter knows this moment will come; we just never know when. 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 said.

The boxer also highlighted that his career was deeply connected to his family and roots.

''I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had, '' he added.

''Walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove, '' Crawford concluded in a post on X.

Walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove. #CrawfordERA #1P4P #3xUndisputed #5DivisionChampion #4xLinealChampion #BWAAFighterOfTheYear #2xEspyAwardWinnerhttps://t.co/GwK3TYnIz6 pic.twitter.com/4DElhAJXIg

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) December 16, 2025

Champion status and belt situation

Crawford retired with a perfect record — 42 wins, including 31 by knockout. At the time of his announcement, he held the WBA, IBF, and WBO super welterweight titles.

The WBC belt was stripped from the American in December due to a dispute over sanctioning fees following the Álvarez fight.

Throughout his career, no judge ever awarded a victory to his opponent — all of Crawford's fights were won either unanimously or by stoppage.

Terence Crawford's career

The 38-year-old boxer made his professional debut in 2008. His first world title — the WBO lightweight belt — came in 2014 with a win over Ricky Burns.

In total, Crawford won 18 titles across five weight divisions. Over the years, he defeated notable opponents such as Breidis Prescott, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Amir Khan, Viktor Postol, Shawn Porter, Errol Spence, and Kell Brook.

The final chapter of his career was the fight on September 14 against Canelo Álvarez, after which Crawford said he would make a decision about his future in consultation with his team.

Now that the decision is official, the legendary boxer leaves the ring undefeated.

Earlier, we reported that Oleksandr Usyk considers Crawford the best boxer in the world, regardless of weight division.