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Champion Boxer Terence Crawford Is a Family Man First, Fighter Second

Terence Crawford’s heard it all. The excuses, the naysayers and, unsurprisingly, the same repetitive interview questions. As the undefeated boxer gets ready for a December 14 bout against Egidijus Kavaliauskas of Lithuania, Crawford says he’d rather not do the same cookie cutter round of questioning. In fact, he has a different interview in mind. 

“I want to talk about how great of a father I am,” Crawford told AskMen. “How I never miss any of my kids’ wrestling tournaments or big events like birthdays or holidays. I’m always there for anything to do with my kids.” 

Family is everything to Crawford. It’s both his primary inspiration and central motivator for getting back into the ring time and again. If it wasn’t for his family, he’s unsure he’d even still be boxing. Coming from a fighter with an unblemished record after 35 matches, that confession might seem surprising, but to him, it makes perfect sense. 

At this point in his career, Crawford feels like he’s accomplished everything he set out to do. He’s held world championships across three weight classes, including the current WBO welterweight title, and achieved the rare feat of holding all four major world boxing titles for a brief stint in 2017. If he wasn’t a parent, Crawford thinks his time spent boxing might’ve expired a while back. 

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“If I was doing this for me, I would’ve given up a long time ago,” he said. “But me doing it for somebody else is what keeps me motivated and sharp. I have a lot of family members and friends that depend on me. I need to keep it moving.”

To say he succeeds in keeping it moving would be an understatement. Since his first professional bout in 2008, he’s gotten in the ring no less than twice a year, with some fights coming only months after the last. This might be normal to most, but to Crawford, the balancing act of training for and showing up to a fight includes a healthy dose of family time  — even if it means taking time away from working out to do it. 

At the end of the day, as Crawford puts it, he’s fighting for them. Being present in the lives of his children is more important than another round of sparing. Crawford’s training regimen wouldn’t be complete without them.

“I just make sure I’m always there for them no matter what,” he said. “I’ll leave camp just to be in attendance for any of their tournaments or events. They need me in the crowd, rooting them on and watching them, so picking up and leaving camp for a couple days is something I just have to do. It uplifts me and my motivation, and I know it makes them happy. They’re never going to forget that.”

That motivation his family provides him carries into the ring for all his fights, too. Though he knows he’s always been a competitive person who thrives on being the best, Crawford admits that it’s his family that helps push him from round to round. If he’s tiring out during a tough match, he visualizes who he’s doing it for, using that as energy to trudge on. No matter how much he was pushing before, those thoughts allow him to kick things up to another level.

As an undefeated fighter with an obvious target on his back, being able to dig deeper than his opponent is vital for Crawford. Even if he feels his skills and technique are better than the person he’s up against, his opponents step into that ring with a built-in determination to serve him his first loss. Unfortunately for them, their best hasn’t been able to overcome the power Crawford has. It’s why, after 35 fights, he’s yet to taste defeat. 

Because of this dominance, Crawford’s opponents have brought quite the mixed assortment of talent and ability in hopes of finally figuring out his weakness. Big and small, fast and strong, boxers, punchers and southpaws – regardless of the style, he’s seen it. He points to his own blend of boxing styles that not only keeps him prepared, but also makes him increasingly difficult to crack. 

“I pride myself on being unique in my own right,” explains Crawford. “I wanted to be myself. I’d take bits and pieces from a fighter, if I liked what they did, and I’d put it in my arsenal. I never wanted to fight like or be like any other fighter. I wanted a style that was unique for me.”

Being unique is just one of the many things that has made Terence Crawford one of the most thrilling boxers in the sport. Every fighter has their own story, but he’s unwavering in his convictions. Whether it’s his family-first mentality, the immense love for his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska (which shaped him into the person he is today), or how he prepares for his next title defense, Crawford doesn’t go back on his morals, staying committed to what defines him. 

Sure, other fighters exhibit their own version of dedication, but few routinely put it into action like he has. The way Crawford has crafted his life and profession to fulfill his own goal of being both a world-class fighter and a world-class father shows it’s not just about championship belts. He may have heard it all, but there’s plenty more to Crawford’s life than some routine pre-fight press tour. 

He just needed the opportunity to share it.

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Rick Stella, Khareem Sudlow