Beyond the Ring: Terence Crawford Talks Football, Films, and Family Legacy—Built on an Undefeated Record

When asked what professional sport he’d pursue if boxing wasn’t an option, Crawford didn’t hesitate to look toward the turf. “I would try to be a football player [laughs],” he mused. Acknowledging the height requirements of basketball, he quickly settled on his position of choice: “Definitely a safety.”

While he admitted he couldn’t name them off the top of his head, Crawford confirmed he enjoys watching many of the NFL’s current crop of safeties.

A Combat Sports Heritage

While his profession is boxing, Crawford’s family tree is rooted deep in combat sports, encompassing both punching and grappling. “I didn’t grow up watching wrestling,” Crawford revealed, “but my dad wrestled, my grandpa wrestled, my uncles wrestled, but they were all boxers as well, so that was just something that was in my blood.” His relatives were high-level competitors, having been “state champions and wrestled in college and stuff like that.” Despite the family legacy, Crawford himself avoided the singlet. “Me personally, I really didn’t want to wrestle, but they tried to put it on me.”

The Unbeaten Streak: Stats Behind the Dominance

Crawford’s current status as one of boxing’s elite is earned through an extraordinary professional record. As a three-division lineal champion and one of the few boxers in the four-belt era to achieve undisputed status in two weight classes (light welterweight and welterweight), his statistics speak volumes.

With a pristine record of 42 wins and 0 losses, including 31 knockouts (a 73.81% KO ratio), Crawford has consistently proven his ability to adapt and finish his opponents decisively.

Key Career Milestones and Notable Wins:

• Undisputed at Light Welterweight (140 lbs): In a historic performance in 2017, Crawford unified all four major titles (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) by knocking out Julius Indongo in the third round.
• Undisputed at Welterweight (147 lbs): The defining win of his career came in July 2023 when he delivered a spectacular performance, stopping fellow undefeated champion Errol Spence Jr. via TKO in the ninth round to become the undisputed champion of the welterweight division.
• Other Elite Welterweight Wins: Before Spence, Crawford dominated the 147-pound division, securing stoppage victories over formidable opponents like Shawn Porter (TKO 10), Kell Brook (TKO 4), and Amir Khan (TKO 6).
• Lightweight Success: His path to greatness began at 135 lbs, where he won his first world title against Ricky Burns in 2014 and recorded an impressive TKO victory over the highly skilled Cuban, Yuriorkis Gamboa, later that year.

Inspired by the Silver Screen

Boxing has produced some of cinema’s most iconic sports dramas, and Crawford has his top picks. When asked for his three favorite boxing flicks, he offered a comprehensive list. “It had to be all the Rocky movies, Raging Bull, and the Creed movies.”

Pinpointing a favorite from the Rocky franchise proved a little tougher, but he settled on two for different reasons. “Definitely Rocky versus Mr. T [Rocky III],” he said, referring to the adrenaline-pumping showdown with Clubber Lang. For his own arduous training, however, he draws inspiration from another sequel: “But training wise, Rocky versus Drago [Rocky IV].”

The Soundtrack to Success

Preparation is paramount for a fighter of Crawford’s caliber, and a good soundtrack is key to getting through the grueling training camps. When it comes to music, Crawford keeps his options wide open. “Just any music that I can relate to, you know? I listen to a variety of music. It’s just whatever music that fits the mold, you know? And that’s the music that I’ll go with.”

Whether he’s dominating in the ring or hypothetically laying a crushing hit on the football field, it’s clear Terence Crawford’s competitive spirit is fueled by family history, cinematic inspiration, and a perfectly curated soundtrack—all backing up a statistically sensational, undefeated career.