Terence Crawford may insist he’s done with boxing, but Dana White isn’t convinced the pound-for-pound great has thrown his last punch. The 38-year-old Crawford officially announced his retirement last month, unveiling a polished five-minute montage celebrating his career before hosting a private retirement party for family and friends over the weekend.
He exits the sport with a pristine 42-0 record, cemented by a masterful unanimous decision win over Canelo Alvarez in September to become the undisputed super middleweight champion. Despite that final exclamation point, White believes Crawford still has plenty to offer inside the ring.
“One hundred percent Crawford is an all-time great,” White told TMZ. “He decided to retire. I think he should be out there fighting everybody. After seeing the masterpiece he put on that night against Alvarez, he’s so good and talented. I actually like him. He’s a great guy.”
Crawford Content With Walking Away
Crawford, a former undisputed champion in three weight classes, has been clear about his reasoning. After a 17-year professional career, he believes the time is right to step away.
“I’m 38,” Crawford said following his retirement announcement. “That’s old for boxing. I’ve been boxing since I was seven.”
He also made it clear that his motivation wasn’t waning ambition, but fulfillment. With titles in multiple divisions and victories over elite competition, Crawford said he had “nothing else left to prove.” While he briefly hinted at a possible move down to middleweight in pursuit of becoming a six-division champion, the idea never gained real traction.
Zuffa Boxing Looms as a Wild Card
White’s comments come as he prepares to launch Zuffa Boxing, with its inaugural event scheduled for Friday night at UFC Apex. The longtime UFC president has been vocal about his desire to shake up boxing, and Crawford with his star power and elite skill set would be a massive addition.
“We’ll put on some fights here [with Zuffa Boxing], see how things progress and play out with the stuff that I am working on right now,” White said. “And I might give him a call in the next six to seven months.”
Whether Crawford entertains that call remains to be seen. For now, the Omaha native appears at peace with his decision, leaving the sport on his own terms and at the absolute peak of his powers a rarity in boxing.
Still, White’s comments underscore a familiar truth about elite fighters: when greatness looks effortless, it’s hard for promoters and fans to accept that it’s truly over. Crawford says the chapter is closed. Dana White isn’t so sure.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
