Legendary American boxer Terence Crawford has announced his immediate retirement from the sport at age 38.
Crawford, a world champion in five different weight divisions, hangs up the gloves with a perfect 42-0 record.
His last fight was one of his best, as Crawford became the undisputed super middleweight champion courtesy of a brilliant unanimous decision victory over Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September.
It marked his third undisputed championship victory after doing the same at junior welterweight in 2017 and welterweight in 2021.
That brilliant performance, where Crawford used his speed and nous to thoroughly outbox the larger Alvarez, might not be the last time we see Crawford in the ring, as his retirement statement on Instagram did seem to leave the door open, but for the time being, the Omaha, Nebraska, native is out of the game.
"I'm stepping away from competition, not because I'm done fighting but because I've won a different kind of battle," Crawford said.
"The one where you walk away on your own terms. This isn't goodbye, this is the end of one fight and the beginning of another.
"This sport gave me everything. 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. Every scar, every triumph, every ounce of my heart. I've made peace with what's next, and now, it's time."
Crawford made his professional debut in 2008 and quickly established himself as one of the 21st century's brightest talents.
He captured the first of his 18 major world titles in 2014 with a unanimous decision victory over Ricky Burns at lightweight and went on to win further titles at junior welterweight, welterweight, junior middleweight, and super middleweight, and retires as the consensus number one pound-for-pound fighter in boxing.
"Every fighter knows this moment will come; you 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, and you keep showing up, and you keep proving everyone wrong."
Crawford's finest performances include his TKO victories over Shawn Porter in 2021 and Errol Spence Jr in 2023 and his masterclass against Alvarez earlier this year.
He also knocked out Australian Jeff Horn in nine rounds in 2018 to claim Horn's WBO welterweight title.
Speculation had abounded that Crawford could chase a fourth undisputed title or opt for a bout with YouTuber Jake Paul, but instead, he will walk away from the sport.
"Thank you to the opponents who pushed me to places I didn't know I could go, to the fans who believed in me when I didn't have to and made this journey a pride I'll carry for the rest of my life," Crawford said.
"To my haters and the people who didn't believe in me — without you, without having that fire in my gut, you pushed me to heights I never thought I'd reach."
[sports newsletter]
