Roy Jones Jr reveals what would bring Terence Crawford out of retirement

The retirement of any high-profile fighter comes with an asterisk attached — and Terence Crawford’s is no different.

Crawford bowed out of the sport last month and did so on his own terms, retiring undefeated as a three-weight undisputed champion. His spotless record places him alongside the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Joe Calzaghe and Rocky Marciano — fighters who left boxing with no official blemish on their ledgers.

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His final appearance came at Allegiant Stadium last September, where Crawford overcame the challenge of super-middleweight king Canelo Alvarez. Even at 38, he looked every bit as sharp and authoritative as he had at any point in his career, leading many to believe there was still more left in the tank. However, in recent interviews, Crawford has insisted there was nothing left for him to achieve.

History suggests retirements in boxing are rarely final until Father Time delivers the decisive blow. A tempting offer, particularly one too lucrative to refuse, has been enough to lure many legends back through the ropes.

Few know that reality better than Roy Jones Jr. The former multi-weight champion unretired on several occasions during his own storied career and recently told the Clubhouse Boxing podcast what he believes could bring Crawford back.

“It’s hard to say because with what Turki [Alalshikh] pays people nowadays, if Turki offer him the right money, I’m sure he’ll come back.”

Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season have transformed boxing’s financial landscape, bringing the sport’s biggest fights to Saudi Arabia alongside eye-watering purses. Prizefighting, after all, remains exactly that — and Jones believes even the most resolute retiree would struggle to ignore the right proposal.

“It’s opportunity. If you still good, nobody ever beat you and you feel you can beat most of the people out there and he going to give you an astronomical amount of money to do it. Why would you leave that on the table?”

For now, Crawford insists his legacy is complete. But in a sport where opportunity and temptation often collide, the door may not be quite as closed as it seems.

Terence Crawford’s Rumored Next Title Fight Derailed as Turki Alalshikh’s Plans Publicly Denied

After Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez last month, uncertainty loomed over his future. Many even believed retirement was on the horizon. Returning home, ‘Bud’ was welcomed in Omaha like the champion he is. Soon after, however, he appeared alongside His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, dropping fresh hints about what lies ahead.

“The champ have a lot of surprise, for his city, and for the future,” Alalshikh said in a video shared by Ring Magazine. The 38-year-old even presented the Saudi royal with a signed glove he had worn during the Canelo fight. Now, the latest update sheds light on what the GEA chairman might be planning for Crawford’s next chapter.

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Terence Crawford could create history yet again

According to a post from Source of Boxing on X, Janibek Alimkhanuly and Erislandy Lara are rumored to clash in a title unification bout this December. In the meantime, speculation suggests that Terence Crawford could face “Carlos Adames for the 160-pound WBC belt.” If Crawford secures the belt, he would then be in position to meet the winner of Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, who would hold the IBF, WBO, and WBA straps.

Should this scenario play out, Crawford would become the first boxer, male or female, to achieve undisputed status in four different weight divisions. Such a feat is virtually unheard of in the sport and would cement his place far above the rest of today’s boxing elite. Interestingly, Adames and Alimkhanuly were once linked to a potential fight of their own, even trading barbs online, but the matchup never materialized, with no explanation given.

Regardless, following the X post about Crawford’s potential path, Carlos Adameshimself responded, seemingly dismissing the idea. “Who said that?” he wrote on X, casting doubt on Alalshikh’s rumored plans for ‘Bud.’ Despite the new hurdle in his path to undisputed in a fourth weight class, Terence Crawford is staying sharp.

Terence Crawford is giving his body the proper time it needs

For most fighters, inactivity is a nightmare. Long layoffs often lead to ring rust, but Terence Crawford refuses to buy into that narrative. “I don’t believe in that,” Crawford told Andre Ward on All The Smoke Fight. “Some people do, I don’t. I think you get your sharpness from sparring and in the gym. If you’re sharp in the gym, you’re gonna be sharp in the fight.”

Since 2020, the 38-year-old has fought just once a year, but inactivity hasn’t slowed him down. Last month, he cemented his place in boxing history by becoming the sport’s first male three-division undisputed champion after outpointing Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Even after a 13-month layoff, Crawford looked as smooth as ever.

“Me being in the game for so long, your body needs rest,” he explained. “I’m giving my body the proper time it needs to recover.”

Having said that, it appears Carlos Adames isn’t quite ready to let Terence Crawford walk into his weight class and take his belt. Yet, only time will tell what the future holds for Crawford. Retirement or more legacy.