Undefeated Boxing Great Crawford Announces Retirement

Los Angeles: Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after his career-defining victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who won the undisputed super middleweight crown by defeating Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.

“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’ve stopped fighting, but because I’ve won a different kind of fight,” Crawford said in his retirement message. “Where you walk away on your own terms.”

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) retired as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO super middleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance.

Crawford also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month following a dispute over sanctioning fees.

Speaking in the video, Crawford said his career was driven by his desire to continue “proving everyone wrong”.

“Every fighter knows this moment will come, but we never know when,” Crawford said.

“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not the belt, not the money, not the headlines. But it’s that feeling you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and proving everyone wrong.”

“I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the boy who once had nothing but dreams and a pair of gloves. And I did it as best I could. I gave this sport my every breath.”

Crawford’s career spans three different decades; The southpaw made his professional debut in 2008 and quickly became one of boxing’s brightest talents.

He won his first world title, the WBO lightweight crown, with a victory over Scotsman Ricky Burns in 2014.

Crawford won 18 world titles across five weight classes and reached the top with a win over Alvarez.

He retires because he hasn’t been officially knocked down in a fight.

All of his 42 victories came by unanimous decision or stoppage; During his career, no referee scored a goal in favor of his opponent.