Dogli Wilberforce
Terence Crawford ended his boxing career at the top, but he came close to taking one more fight before stepping away. The unbeaten star retired in late 2025 after defeating Canelo Álvarez by unanimous decision. That result pushed his record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts and made him a five-division world champion.
Terence Crawford moved up to 168 pounds for that bout and added super-middleweight titles to his résumé. His win over Canelo followed his dominant victory over Errol Spence Jr. in 2023, where he became undisputed at welterweight. With major titles across multiple weight classes, Crawford closed his career with a clean record and a long list of achievements that placed him among the sport’s top fighters.
Terence Crawford Reveals Plan for Another Title Run
In a recent interview, Terence Crawford said he had considered one more move before retiring. He thought about dropping to middleweight to chase another title. “I was like, well, go down to 160 and do it again,” he said. Crawford explained that he wanted to fight for something meaningful. “It was a thought,” he added. “To dare to be great and fight for something meaningful.”
He identified Janibek Alimkhanuly as the main target. The plan depended on a unification fight involving Alimkhanuly and Erislandy Lara. Crawford said the matchup would have drawn strong interest. “Janibek is a dangerous challenge,” he said. He also pointed to a bigger goal if things aligned. If Alimkhanuly had beaten Carlos Adames and become undisputed, it would have created a high-level clash. “Especially if he had somehow beaten Carlos Adames and [became the] undisputed [champion]. Then you [have a fight] undisputed vs undisputed.”
Failed Test Ends Middleweight Plan
The plan did not move forward after Alimkhanuly tested positive for a banned substance. That result stopped the proposed unification bout and removed the path Crawford had in mind. He addressed the situation directly. “But Janibek popped,” Crawford said.
Without that fight, Terence Crawford decided not to continue. He viewed the outcome as a clear sign. “It didn’t happen. So, you know what, I was like this is God telling me you ain’t got nothing left to prove.” The 38-year-old chose not to pursue another title opportunity and confirmed his decision to retire after the Canelo fight.
Career Closes with a Full Set of Achievements
Terence Crawford’s decision followed a period of major success. He became the undisputed champion at welterweight in 2023 after beating Spence. He then moved up two weight classes and defeated Canelo in 2025 to win the super middleweight titles. Across his career, he held lineal and undisputed titles and collected belts in five divisions.
A move to 160 pounds would have tested him again against a top-level opponent in Alimkhanuly. The middleweight champion is known for his pressure and power and has challenged several contenders. That fight did not happen, and Crawford chose to end his career without adding another bout.
He retired with an unbeaten record and multiple titles across different divisions. His final decision ensured that he left the sport without a loss and without returning for another fight.
