Who Is Terence Crawford?

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of his generation. Known for his switch-hitting style, equally competent in both orthodox and southpaw stances, Crawford had humble beginnings. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 28, 1987, he grew up in a dangerous neighborhood that was known for rampant lawlessness and crime. These factors made it difficult for him to navigate his childhood and early years of youth. With a childhood marked by a largely absent father and a mother who used unorthodox methods to “toughen him”, Crawford often found himself in altercations, which in turn led to him being kicked out of five different schools.

He would later credit this trauma from his childhood as a driving force for his success as a boxer.

“It just made me more hungry. Hungry, like, ‘Man, my mom going against me. I’m gonna prove her wrong. My mom said I can’t do this, I’m gonna do it anyways,” he said. “I was angry, but I feed off of that. I feed off of the non-believers.”

Crawford’s only source of consolation was the C.W. Boxing Club, the gym that his grandfather, father, and uncle had trained in. Taking up boxing at the age of 7, he met his mentor, Midge Minor, at the gym, who later became a father figure to him. He later started training under Brian “Bomac” McIntyre and Esaú Diéguez in 2001, who have remained his trainers since.

‘Bud’ fought 70 fights as an amateur, beating fighters like Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia, albeit losing 12 times. Winning major championships in 2006 and 2007, like gold medals in the National PAL Championship and the Blue & Gold National Championships, and a silver medal in the Golden Gloves, Crawford became the highest-ranked lightweight before the 2008 Olympics.

Gloves to Glory

Crawford turned pro in 2008, facing Brian Cummings at the Athletic Club in Denver, Colorado.

His debut was explosive, to say the least. A jab and a thunderous left hook later, Cummings was down, beaten via KO barely 26 seconds into the first round.

Crawford went on to fight four more times in his debut year, winning every single fight. He has maintained an unbeaten streak since.

He even had a near-death experience during the same year, which further cemented his decision to take his career seriously. Crawford was sitting in his car in the early hours of the morning, after a dice game in his hometown in Omaha, when shots rang out and a bullet ripped through the back window and slashed his head below the ear.

Luckily, the bullet glanced off his skull, leaving him injured but saving him from what would have been a fatal injury.

This incident became an oracle’s prophecy, which pushed him to get himself and his family out of the dangers around him.

“When I got shot, it changed my life tremendously, and put me on the right path,” he told CNN’s Patrick Snell. “And that’s when everything started happening there for me with boxing and my family and just everything. My life just took a big turn and started going uphill.”

Crawford’s change in his mindset paved the way for his success as a boxer. A host of victories later, he faced Alejandro Sanabria in 2013 for his first world title fight. Beating Sanabria via a 6th-round TKO, he won the WBO–NABO lightweight title.

He went on to win multiple world championships in four weight classes, ranging from lightweight to junior middleweight, including the undisputed championship at junior welterweight and welterweight. Beating fighters like Amir Khan, Jose Benavidez Jr, Errol Spence Jr, and Israil Madrimov, he became the first male boxer in history to become the undisputed champion in two weight classes in the “four-belt era”.

The Canelo Alvarez Fight

In January 2025, Saudi powerbroker, Turki Alalshikh, reported that a bout between Alvarez and Crawford was agreed upon for September. Titled ‘Once in a Lifetime’, the fight is set to be the biggest one in Crawford’s career, yet. The fight will see Crawford move up in weight to super middleweight, which is 14 pounds heavier than his August 2024 fight against Madrimov.

Following the fight announcement, Álvarez and Crawford went on a three-city press tour to promote the fight, first in Riyadh, then New York City, and finally Las Vegas. With the undisputed super middleweight title on the line, Crawford is certainly excited.

“Me and Canelo are definitely making this event as massive as possible,” he said while talking about the fight and the belts. “Everything is up for grabs. Three-time undisputed, three different weight classes. Everything is on the line in this fight.”

With an explosive showdown right around the corner, boxing fans are undoubtedly in for a treat on September 13. Will Crawford keep his unbeaten streak and become a three-time undisputed fighter? Or will Alvarez reign supreme? Only time will tell.