Boxing

Terence Crawford: Age, titles, net worth, professional boxing record & next fight

bet365 News Team Updated: Apr 23 2024 20:42

Everything you need to know about one of the top pound-for-pound boxers on the planet - Terence 'Bud' Crawford.

Born	September 28, 1987
Age	36
Birthplace	Omaha, Nebraska
Resides	Omaha, Nebraska
Nickname	'Bud'
Height	5-8
Reach	74 in
Stance	Southpaw
Weight Division	Welterweight
Pro Record	40-0 (31 KOs)
Amateur Record	58-12
Next Fight	August 3 vs. Israil Madrimov

The making of Terence Crawford

The trajectory of a single bullet changed the course of Terence Crawford’s life and career.

During a game of dice (a game where people gamble on the outcome of the number rolled), shortly before his 21st birthday, a gunshot was fired at Crawford and his friends.

The bullet smashed through a window, slowing it down as it grazed the back of Crawford’s head.

It is a story that he has been asked about often during his career to the point where he gets tired of talking about it. He described the event as a “wake-up call."

Crawford was already four fights into his fledgling career as an up and coming lightweight. Experience would be gained over a further 14 fights before he was ready for his maiden world title shot.

Terence Crawford v Ricky Burns

On March 1, 2014, Crawford ventured into the lion’s den. A trip to Glasgow to face the popular Ricky Burns stood between him and his dream.

The Scot had already punched above his weight having become a world champion at super-featherweight, and now held the WBO lightweight title.

In front of typically passionate and noisy Scottish crowd, Crawford soon quietened them with his superior skillset to that of Burns.

‘Rickster’ gave it everything he could but was not good enough on the night. A majority decision was thoroughly deserved for Crawford who outclassed his resolute foe throughout the fight.

Crawford still regards that night as the most important and biggest win of his career.

Homecoming

Crawford’s reward for breaking Scottish hearts was a return home to Omaha three months later for the first defence of his championship.

The Century Link Centre was filled to the rafters when Crawford scythed through Yuriorkis Gamboa. Many years ago, the Cuban was tipped to become boxing’s next big thing and went into this fight unbeaten and as a former champ at featherweight and super-featherweight.

Gamboa was never known for having the strongest of chins and Crawford took full advantage of that weakness, decking him four times before referee Genaro Rodriguez stopped the fight in the ninth.

Crawford’s popularity in the city of Omaha prompted promoter Bob Arum to take his rising star back to the Century Link Centre. Ray Beltran stood in the opposite corner on November 29, 2014, hoping to empty “Bud” of his title and send the locals to the bars to drown their sorrows

Fourteen months earlier Beltran had been robbed of becoming a world champion when Ricky Burns, who suffered a broken jaw in round two, was gifted a hometown decision.

The 33-year-old Mexican was in deeper waters against Crawford, however. The hand speed, footwork and power were a level above the game challenger on the night. The result was a near shut-out for the champion who was still yet to tap into his full potential.

Undisputed

Crawford eventually left behind the lightweight scene to move four pounds north to super-lightweight.

Seven fights and two years was all that was needed for the 140lbs division to be cleaned out by one of the most dominant fighters in the sport.

The quality of opponent has always been used to poke holes in Crawford’s record of achievements. And it is true that Thomas Dulorme, Dierry Jean, Hank Lundy, Viktor Postol, John Molina Jr, Felix Diaz, and Julius Indongo would probably not get title shots in other eras.

But no-one could question the amazing attributes of Crawford. An athlete and a boxer who could do everything. The only thing missing was the right opponent to bring it out in him.

Size doesn't matter

The welterweight division has always been one of boxing’s premier weight divisions. Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Henry Armstrong, Thomas Hearns. Legendary names and some of the greatest to ever grace the 10st 7lbs class.

To become a welterweight great and have your name thrown into the hat of being recognised as one of the best you must fight the best. Thanks to the way rankings work, Crawford was given a world title shot in his first fight at welter.

Former Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff Horn was no match for a superb Crawford who proved the weight jump of seven pounds mattered not.

The WBO title was his. Three-weight champion now part of his legacy. The Australian was a big welterweight himself but had no answer for Crawford's tricks and traps that he fell into on June 9, 2018.

A grudge match against Jose Benavidez Jr brought out “Bud”. The street fighter who looks to hurt you for as long as a referee will allow. Faded Brits Amir Khan and Kell Brook shouldn’t have been in the same ring as Crawford and Lithuanian ‘Mean Machine’ Egidijus Kavaliauskas proved being tough wasn’t enough.

Then it was ‘Showtime’. Shawn Porter, one of best welterweights in recent years, was the perfect name and opponent for Crawford to have on his record.

Their fight arrived four years after Porter gave Errol Spence Jr the toughest night he experienced in a boxing ring, narrowly prevailing via a split decision.

Porter, tougher than a two-dollar steak, was not the threat of old but his persistent front-foot pressure tactics gave Crawford a problem early on. Round by round Crawford adapted to what was in front of him and began to dominate the exchanges between the two friends.

The ninth round was Crawford’s best of the fight, a pre-cursor for what was to come. In the tenth Porter was on the floor, hit by a heavy left uppercut. The challenger got back to his feet but was quickly met with a wicked combination to end the fight. Crawford had become the first man to stop Shawn Porter.

The ruthless finish was what Crawford needed. He handled his business and wanted Errol Spence Jr next. Since then, David Avanesyan stepped up to face the American but was found wanting against a technician at the peak of his powers.

With all contenders now out of the way, Crawford and Errol Spence Jr found themselves together for one of the biggest and most important fights in the sport this century.

Errol Spence Jr v Terence Crawford...

Or as we were told beforehand by ‘Bud’, Crawford vs Spence!

The greatest fighters always save their greatest performances for the biggest moments in their careers and Crawford did exactly that against Spence. The night of July 29, 2023, was when Omaha’s finest became an all-time great of the sport.

Billed as a 50-50, viewed equally so by fellow fighters, fans, and media, few would have predicted what played out inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Twenty thousand expectant fans were already at fever pitch after a fascinating yet respectful week of media events. Eminem then accompanying Terence Crawford to the ring threatened to take the roof off.

After 39 fights in a career full of titles and world-class performances Crawford produced his best for number 40.

Such was Crawford’s confidence he chose to stay in the danger zone giving Spence ample opportunity to throw and land shots. But Crawford proved yet again he is a violent wizard and made Spence fell short but then returned fire which turned his opponent’s face into a red mess.

Spence visiting the canvas three times, once in round two and twice in the seventh, was not in anyone’s script.

Blow-by-blow Crawford quietened everyone who thought Spence’s size would matter. It was one-sided, it was brutal and by stopping ‘The Truth’ in round nine the stone-cold fact of the night was Crawford demonstrated he was the better fighter and by some margin.

Terence Crawford Net Worth

Terence Crawford's net worth is reported to be $14 million.

How to watch Terence Crawford...

Terence Crawford is currently a free agent but his undisputed welterweight title fight against Errol Spence Jr was shown live on Showtime pay-per-view in the United States.

Who is Terence Crawford's trainer?

Brian ‘Bo Mac’ McIntyre, an ex-pro fighter, trains Crawford at the B&B Boxing Academy in Omaha. The two have worked together for the entirety of the fighter’s career.

The 53-year-old grew up in the same neighbourhood as Crawford. In the past McIntyre has also trained Jamel Herring and Amir Khan.