For someone like Terence Crawford, his stacked resume isn’t just a result of talent, though make no mistake, the skills have always been there. But what really built the man we see today? Sure, he took 11 losses in the amateurs. But ever since he turned pro? Not a single L. That unblemished record is no accident—and it’s exactly why he’s stepping up to face Canelo Álvarez with full confidence, despite being the smaller fighter and a massive underdog.
And let’s be real—what Terence Crawford is doing at 37 is nothing short of bold. He’s risking that perfect record, the legacy of being one of the few two-weight undisputed champions, and moving up two weight classes, and taking on one of boxing’s best fighters. That’s not just skill—that takes guts. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t the wins or losses alone that molded him into a four-division world champion. It’s the journey.
In a recent on-the-road episode of Club Shay Shay with NFL veteran Shannon Sharpe at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Bud Crawford reflected on his personal growth, the changes that shaped the man he is today. In the interview, they talked about the turning point in Terence Crawford’s life—the moment when everything really started to shift. Terence Crawford admitted that, back in the day, he was a bit of a wild card. How so?
“I got kicked off the USA team,” he revealed. Not because of a lack of skill, but because he was getting into fights, that too with his own teammates. Overseas trips, scuffles, just a general ‘I don’t care’ attitude that resulted in him getting booted off the US boxing team. That was just Bud back then. He even owned up to it, stating, “I was just a no-nonsense type of guy. I just didn’t care.” But then something major happened.
Terence Crawford became a father. That’s when the switch flipped. “I honestly think when I had my first son, that changed my life,” Crawford told Sharpe. Suddenly, life wasn’t just about him anymore. There was someone else to live for, someone else to guide and protect. As Sharpe put it, “Because you have something to live for?” and Crawford agreed, “Yeah, there you go.”
Now that he was a father, Crawford made a promise to himself—his kids would never grow up the way he did. “I stopped not ‘not caring.’ I started caring,” the 37-year-old confessed. The Omaha native reflected on how his own dad wasn’t there for him growing up. That memory made him realize he had to break the cycle and become a father to his son. “I got to be there for him,” Crawford admitted. That’s when he had the hard talk with himself: “You gotta control yourself.”
It’s a powerful source of motivation. Not just about boxing, but about growth, fatherhood, and stepping into responsibility. For Terence Crawford, becoming a dad at just 20 wasn’t just life-changing—it was life-defining. And for his family—and for himself—he knew he had to make it. But instead of following the crowd, he took the road not taken.
Terence Crawford earned what was rightfully his
In the same podcast with the three-time Super Bowl champion, Terence Crawford got real about why he never chased Olympic gold. While most fighters dream of standing on that Olympic podium, hearing the national anthem, and wearing a gold medal like Ali or Foreman once did, the 41-0 boxer never cared for that route. When Sharpe asked if he ever wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist, Bud didn’t hesitate. “Never,” he said. Why? “I’m a leader, not a follower.”
August 2, 2024, Los Angeles, California, USA: Former three weight world champion and pound for pound stalwart Terence ÃâËBudÃââ Crawford 40-0 steps on the scale to weigh in for his bout with WBA Super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov Los Angeles USA – ZUMAd151 20240802_znp_d151_024 Copyright: xAdamxDelGiudicex
He wasn’t trying to copy the greats. He had his own vision: become a world champion and make real money doing it. He thought that just being on TV meant you were making bank, but it wasn’t that simple. Still, Terence Crawford didn’t let it stop him. He stayed grinding. “I always made it to the gym no matter what,” he revealed. At first, the recognition didn’t come. The payoff wasn’t instant. But he kept going. And then, as he put it, “I didn’t see the results until God said it’s time for you to see the results.”
Looking at where he is now? It looks like it was all worth it. With that said, do you think Terence Crawford can win the September bout? Or will Canelo Alvarez beat the smaller Crawford this time?
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