Crawford Warned: Undefeated Record at Risk if He Returns to the Ring

Retired boxing champion Terence Crawford has been cautioned that a comeback could jeopardize his undefeated record. After a legacy-defining victory over Canelo Alvarez, Crawford stepped away from the sport, holding the distinction of being the only three-division undisputed world champion in the four-belt era.

Despite his retirement, Crawford remains a hot topic in the boxing world, particularly with rumors of a lucrative rematch against Canelo and a potential clash with newly-crowned unified super-welterweight champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. Ennis recently dethroned WBA and WBO titleholder Xander Zayas, and has expressed a desire to face Crawford, although he acknowledges the latter's retirement status.

In a recent interview, Ennis remarked, “For sure, [that is a fight that I want] but he has retired. He isn’t saying, ‘do you want to fight?’, he is retired so let him enjoy his retirement.” He further emphasized, “This is the Boots era,” suggesting that Crawford's return could be more about legacy than competitive viability.

Ennis is on a trajectory towards the undisputed 154lb title, with a potential matchup against IBF champion Josh Kelly on the horizon. He believes that if Crawford were to return, he would defeat him, but anticipates that fans would attribute any loss to Crawford's age, saying, “There is always going to be something.”