Terence Crawford walked into Allegiant Stadium with history on his shoulders. Several weight classes up, staring across at Canelo Alvarez, the biggest name of his era. Twelve rounds later, the impossible became reality. Crawford’s hand was raised in victory, and the boxing world was left asking, What now?

At 37, Crawford isn’t just fighting opponents anymore. He’s fighting time, legacy, and the very dangers of the sport he’s mastered. So, here’s the real question: was this his last fight, or just another step in an already legendary career? Fans are left wondering if ‘Bud’ will retire at the top, or if His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Dana White can tempt him into one more blockbuster!

Is retirement on the horizon for Terence Crawford?

‘Bud’ has repeated one message for years: he will decide when the end comes. In a conversation with Piers Morgan earlier this year, during the build-up to the Alvarez clash, he confessed, “I always say I was going to retire from boxing. I wasn’t going to let boxing retire me.” That conviction isn’t just about pride. It’s about protecting his family and leaving the ring while still intact, as he further stated, “We are in the hurt business. We know what’s at risk. We know the things that could happen.”

UFC commentator Jon Anik, who was a member of the broadcast team for the historic clash, echoed the same thought on MMA Junkie Radio. According to him, “Like if you’re Bud Crawford and you beat Canelo Alvarez, yeah maybe another hundred million dollars in a rematch sounds nice. But what else is there to do? I mean, why not ride off into the sunset at 42-0? So, yeah, I would say about 10% on a rematch.”

So, it’s clear that ‘Bud’ will decide what to do next on his own terms. But what if there’s more left on the table? Let’s take a look at some of the possibilities the future holds for the Omaha native.

Who could be next for Crawford?

Boxing has a way of tempting its kings to stay. Terence Crawford could walk away tomorrow, but if Turki Alalshikh and Dana White dangle another mega-event, would he say no? A Canelo rematch is unlikely, though not impossible, given the numbers it could generate. And as mentioned by Anik, another massive payday could be reason enough to face Alvarez one more time.

Other names are circling the waters as well. Some reports have mentioned David Benavidez, or even Christian Mbili, who retained his WBC interim super middleweight title on the same card as Crawford vs Canelo. If correct, it might be possible to see ‘Bud’ return to action against some fresh challengers.

For now, Crawford has nothing left to chase. He’s conquered multiple weight divisions, beaten every man placed before him, and just toppled the sport’s biggest star. Whether he retires at 42-0 or risks it all against a new challenger, his place in boxing history is already locked. So, what’s next? Will Crawford step away on top, never tasting defeat? Or will he give the fans one more night under the lights, one more chance to watch a master at work? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!