The fight game is often built on glory inside the ring, but sometimes the stories outside it steal the spotlight. Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, a man now preparing for the biggest night of his career against Canelo Alvarez, once found himself in headlines for a very different reason.

Back in 2016, the Omaha native was not being celebrated for his dominance in the ring. Instead, he was being led away in handcuffs, his reputation dragged into the courtroom over a heated dispute that spiraled into a 90-day jail sentence. So what really happened, and why was that sentence later overturned?

Did Terence Crawford go to jail?

In December 2016, reports emerged that Terence Crawford was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years of probation after being found guilty of disorderly conduct and property damage. The case stemmed from an April altercation at Extreme Custom Fleet & Auto Spa, an Omaha body shop where Crawford had taken his 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for a new paint job.

The shop reportedly billed him $2,500 for the work. Crawford paid half up front, but when he returned dissatisfied with the job and the delay, tensions rose. Shop owner Michael Nelson allegedly refused to release the car until the remaining $1,350 was paid. That’s when things turned physical. According to Nelson, Crawford, and others lowered the vehicle from a hydraulic lift, tied a rope to it, and hauled it away.

The problem? The lift was left in the “on” position, which overheated and burned out the pump, causing damage estimated at more than $3,000. Surveillance footage captured the incident, and a jury found Crawford guilty. Judge Marcena Hendrix was firm, stating the boxer had behaved “as if he were above the law, and you are not.”

Crawford’s lawyer, Matthew Kahler, blasted the sentence as excessive. “This is his first and only adult conviction of any significance, and for crimes of disorderly conduct and property damage it’s an abnormally high sentence, it’s the most significant sentence I’ve seen from that judge for those charges.” he said.

Under Nebraska guidelines, the 90 days would have meant about 50 days actually served. Crawford posted a $10,000 bond and immediately appealed.

In August 2017, Douglas County District Judge Kimberly Miller Pankonin overturned the jail term, ruling it was indeed excessive. Terence Crawford still faced two years of probation but avoided serving time behind bars. The reversal allowed him to keep his focus on boxing, but that wasn’t his only run-in with the authorities.

When Terence Crawford was questioned by the police

The body shop saga wasn’t the only time Terence Crawford’s name surfaced in Omaha police reports. In March 2017, while his appeal was pending, the champion was briefly taken into custody following a disturbance outside a clothing store called Citi Trends.

As per reports, witnesses claimed two women showed up looking for a fight with an employee. Hours later, the situation escalated in the parking lot, where several cars pulled up. Crawford was reportedly in one of them and became involved in the dispute before leaving.

Police stopped his car shortly after. Crawford was driving, and a firearm registered to him was found inside. He was taken in for questioning but released without charges. His attorney, Matt Kahler, explained that Crawford’s belongings, including the firearm, were returned in the days following. Importantly, because his earlier case was on appeal, he was not considered to be on probation at the time.

Though no charges stuck, the episode highlighted how easily an athlete of Terence Crawford’s profile could become entangled in street-level disputes. Fast forward to 2025, and the conversation around ‘Bud’ has shifted dramatically.

Instead of courtrooms and probation, the focus is on history. On September 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, he faces Canelo Alvarez in a fight billed as ‘Once in a Lifetime’. It’s not just another bout; it’s the first Zuffa Boxing event promoted by Dana White under the TKO banner, streamed worldwide on Netflix.

Now, as he prepares for the toughest test of his career, Terence Crawford enters the spotlight with both his legacy and his past on full display. The question is, will the shadow of those old controversies fade completely if he topples Canelo on boxing’s grandest stage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!