TERENCE ‘BUD’ CRAWFORD has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 38.
The five-weight world champion hangs up his gloves from the sport wth a perfect 42-0 record.
Crawford made history in September with his victory over Saul ‘ Canelo’ Alvarez.
The win meant he became the first male fighter to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions in the modern era.
That bout will be the last time the American stepped into the ring with his professional career starting in 2008 when he beat Brian Cummings.
Following the victory over Alvarez, there was plenty of debate over Crawford’s future.
‘Bud’ had become the undisputed super-middleweight champion at the same time as he held the lightweight, light-welterweight, welterweight and light-middleweight titles.
Crawford announced his decision to retire on social media by sharing a video on YouTube.
He captioned the post: “Walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove.”
In the video, he further explained his decision to call it a day on his glittering career.
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He 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 but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.
“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 that had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves, and I did it all my way.
“I gave this sport every breath I have, every spar, every triumph, every ounce of my heart.
“I’ve made peace with what’s next. Now, it’s time. Thank you.”
Crawford’s full retirement statment
Terance Crawford announced his retirement from boxing with a YouTube video…
He 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 but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.
“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 that had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves, and I did it all my way.
“I gave this sport every breath I have, every spar, every triumph, every ounce of my heart.
“I’ve made peace with what’s next. Now, it’s time. Thank you.
“To my opponents who pushed me to places I didn’t know I could go.
“The fans who believed in me when they did not have too they made this journey something I carry with pride for the rest of my life.
“To my haters and the people who did not believe in me, thank you because without you, wihtout having that fire in my gut to prove you wrong, pushed me to reach heights I never thought I would reach.
“Thank you Turki [Al-Sheikh] not just for believing in me and helping me make history but for what you do continue to do for the sport of boxing.
“To TKO for being my first promotional company that believed in me when nobody else did.
“To Top Rank for helping me become a champion.
“Mum thank you for the touch lessons. You built a mentally strong and resilient man.
“Dad thank you for the support, you were the first person who said I was going to be a million dollar baby and that I was going to be a world champion.
“I am stepping away from competition, not because I am done fighting but because I have won a different kind of battle, the one where you walk away on your own terms.
“This is not goodbye, it is just the end of one fight and the beginning of another.”
Crawford boasts a stunning perfect record with 42 wins in 42 fights, which included 31 knockouts.
He also earned WBO welterweight title victories over British stars Amir Khan and Kell Brook.
His retirement comes after the WBC super middleweight title was stripped from him this month.
The decision was made after he failed to pay the required sanctioning fee.
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