For those wondering why Terence Allan “Bud” Crawford decided to walk away from the ring at absolutely the peak of his powers, the reply is as heavy because the punches he used to throw. After cementing his legacy as an all-time great, the undefeated superstar revealed that his decision was fueled by a desire to avoid the tragic physical decline seen in his idol, Muhammad Ali.
The 38-year-old Nebraska native officially hung up his gloves in December 2025, just months after a masterclass performance against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. During an appearance on The Pivot podcast, Crawford got real in regards to the toll of the “sweet science.” He cited the heartbreaking image of a deteriorating Ali as the final word cautionary tale.
“All of us look as much as Ali as essentially the most iconic boxer ever, and to see him deteriorate like he did, we don’t wanna be like that,” Crawford said. “You’re the best fighter of all time but you may’t care for yourself… Is it price it? No, it isn’t.”
Terence Crawford speaks on Muhammad Ali and explains why he selected to retire, not wanting to deteriorate later in life 🗣️
“To see him deteriorate like he did, we don’t wish to be like that…it’s not price it.”
🎥 @thepivot pic.twitter.com/j1KiNTTIqj
— Source of Boxing (@Sourceofboxing) February 3, 2026
Crawford exits with a flawless 42-0 record and 31 knockouts, having never been officially knocked down in 17 years. His final act was a historic victory over Canelo Alvarez in September 2025 at Allegiant Stadium, where he became a three-weight undisputed champion, the primary male boxer to accomplish that within the four-belt era.
“I gave my all to boxing, but I’m not going to present my health to boxing,” Crawford explained, emphasizing that he fought for legacy, not only a payday. With 18 world titles across five divisions, “Bud” has nothing left to prove. He leaves the game on his own terms, selecting a way forward for clarity over yet another round of risk.