Terence Crawford: Undefeated Champion Ends Illustrious Career

Sports

12 seconds ago

By Daniel Jeje

Terence Crawford, widely regarded as one of boxing’s modern greats, has announced his retirement from the sport, concluding a remarkable career with an unblemished record. At 38 years old, Crawford walked away undefeated in 42 professional bouts, having secured world titles in five different weight classes. His legacy is cemented by achieving undisputed champion status – holding all four major belts – in an unprecedented three divisions, a feat rarely accomplished in boxing history. His final, triumphant performance saw him defeat superstar Canelo Alvarez just three months ago, a contest witnessed by over 70,000 fans.

Crawford’s journey began far from the bright lights, in relative obscurity, fighting four-round contests in hotel lounges as a young dreamer from Omaha, Nebraska. Without a pre-packaged gimmick, his ascent was a testament to raw talent and relentless ambition. A pivotal moment arrived in 2013 when, with a 19-0 record but still largely unknown, he accepted a short-notice fight against formidable puncher Breidis Prescott in Las Vegas. Crawford dominated the bout, winning all ten rounds and signaling his arrival on the professional scene.

Just two fights and a year after his breakthrough, Crawford traveled to Scotland, where he faced Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title. Despite being the underdog, he emerged victorious after a grueling 12-round contest, a fight he often described as “the greatest of my career.” This victory marked the beginning of an extraordinary sequence of 20 consecutive world-title fights, showcasing his enduring dominance and consistent elite-level performance across more than a decade.

His championship reign spanned a significant weight chasm, from lightweight (135lb) to super-middleweight (168lb), demonstrating exceptional adaptability and skill. Crawford systematically conquered divisions, becoming undisputed champion at super-lightweight, welterweight, and ultimately super-middleweight. While often lauded for his technical prowess as a boxer, his impressive record of stopping or knocking out 15 of his 20 world-title opponents underscored his formidable power, earning him the moniker of a “banger” among many observers.

Despite his undeniable in-ring achievements, Crawford’s path to widespread mainstream recognition was protracted. For an extended period, he participated in compelling fights against skilled opponents but felt a lack of the respect he believed he deserved. This often led to public disputes with promoters, with Crawford asserting it was their responsibility to elevate his profile, while figures like Bob Arum countered that Crawford’s reluctance to embrace the promotional aspects of the sport hindered marketability. His standing within the boxing community, however, remained consistently high.

The strategic move to the welterweight division in 2018 proved instrumental in shifting the spotlight. His commanding sixth-round stoppage of high-profile British fighter Amir Khan at Madison Square Garden in 2019 provided the significant win needed to truly elevate his status. A subsequent trio of stoppage victories against former champions Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, and David Avanesyan further solidified his elite standing, changing perceptions across the sport. Crucially, the welterweight division also offered a natural and dangerous rival in Errol Spence Jr., who held the other three major belts.

The highly anticipated clash with the undefeated Errol Spence Jr. in 2023 was billed as a “50-50 fight,” a monumental showdown between two unblemished champions. However, on the night, Crawford delivered a masterclass, dominating Spence Jr. and knocking him down three times en route to a ninth-round stoppage victory. This performance not only unified the welterweight division but also cemented Crawford’s status as a pound-for-pound king, with Spence Jr. remaining inactive since their encounter.

Crawford’s disciplined approach to his career, including careful fight selection, allowed him to age gracefully, maintaining his speed and timing. While a hard-fought 12-round victory over Israil Madrimov for an interim super-light title last summer suggested a potential ceiling for his weight gains, Crawford revealed a grander plan. After a ten-month hiatus, he meticulously prepared for the unexpected challenge against Canelo Alvarez, undergoing a significant physical transformation to gain muscle.

His decision to face Alvarez, a much larger and established super-middleweight champion, was bold and defied conventional wisdom. Yet, in front of a massive audience, Crawford delivered another masterful performance, securing an undisputed championship in a third weight class. This extraordinary achievement, culminating in his retirement, shocked many but ultimately underscored a perfectly executed career strategy. Crawford leaves the ring as arguably the last of a generation of great fighters to command multiple weight divisions with such unparalleled skill and majesty, achieving an obscure start to a legendary finish.