Terence Crawford reveals ‘1,000 percent’ he planned to retire after fighting Canelo Alvarez
Terence Crawford is resolved in his decision to retire from boxing and there’s no chance for a comeback
Terence Crawford became a three-division undisputed champion when he put on a boxing masterclass against Canelo Alvarez but it turns out he had already made up his mind about the future before ever setting foot in the ring.
The undefeated veteran announced his retirement from the sport this past December but he actually had that planned before he faced Canelo in one of the biggest boxing matches in recent history.
While he waited three months to actually make the announcement, Crawford says that was always the plan because he viewed Canelo as the perfect final boss to face before ending his career.
“Won or lost, 1,000 percent [I was going to retire],” Crawford told The Pivot. “Just everything that I went through in camp. I wanted to retire after [Errol] Spence. I always told myself I wanted to retire from boxing, I don’t want boxing to retire me.
“So just going through all the aches and pains and the things that’s not talked about. It’s just like how many more of these do you want to go through?
Canelo is that last fighter at the end of the game. I reached [the heights], where is there to go after that?”
Of course, Crawford retiring on top is a rare feat for any combat sports athlete and that also played a part in his decision to walk away when he did.
Immediately after announcing his retirement, Crawford admitted that people bombarded with messages asking whether he was really done or why he was ending his career after such a monumental win.
“A lot of people ask me ‘oh you’re not retired’ or ‘why are you retiring? You’ve got a lot more fight in you!’” Crawford said. “Why would I give it all to you though?
Why not take some more with me and use it for something else. When I put all that energy into my kids or into something outside of boxing. I want to have a life outside of boxing.
“I don’t want to be like those fighters that stayed in too long. They can’t enjoy the fruits of their labor. They can’t enjoy playing with their family.
They can’t enjoy being able to have a decent conversation. That played a part, too.”
Crawford retired with a perfect 42-0 record and he’ll likely go down as one of the best boxers in recent history given his jaw-dropping list of accomplishments.
While promoters will always throw another payday his way to entice a comeback, Crawford promises that he is satisfied with his career and does not need to keep fighting now.
“I’m at peace,” Crawford said. “I did everything I set my sights out to do. I done it my way. I don’t got nothing left to prove. Of course, it’s a great feeling.
It’s a bittersweet feeling but at the same time, I accomplished that kind of feeling. I did that. So I’m cool with where I’m at.”
