Terence Crawford may have walked away from boxing, but UFC and Zuffa Boxing boss Dana White believes the American great still has plenty left in the tank.
Crawford, 38, announced his retirement last month, sharing a carefully produced five-minute video montage before hosting a private celebration for close family and friends over the weekend. He bowed out of the sport with an unblemished 42-0 record and firmly established himself as the pound-for-pound king after outclassing Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision in September to become the undisputed super middleweight champion.
Dana White, however, is not convinced that fans have seen the last of “Bud” Crawford.
“One hundred percent he’s 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 later explained his decision to step away after a 17-year professional career, saying 38 is too old to continue fighting and insisting he has nothing left to prove or achieve in the sport. In the past, he had hinted at moving down to 160 pounds in an ambitious bid to become a six-division world champion, but that plan never materialised.
White is currently laying the groundwork for his new boxing venture, Zuffa Boxing, with its first show scheduled for Friday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He says the success of the promotion could yet persuade Crawford to reconsider retirement.
“We’ll put on some fights here with Zuffa Boxing, see how things progress and play out with what I’m working on right now,” White said. “And I might give him a call in the next six to seven months.”
For now, Crawford insists his journey is complete — but in boxing, as fans know all too well, retirement does not always mean the final bell.
