Terrence Crawford has never been officially knocked down, though some might argue otherwise.
At 38, “Bud” has had a landmark year, often regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. In September, he jumped two weight classes to face the Mexican superstar, defeating the iconic Canelo Alvarez. This victory, secured via decision at a Dana White-promoted Netflix event, made the Nebraska native the first male boxer in the four-belt era to hold undisputed championships across three weight divisions. With an undefeated record of 42-0, no opponent has managed to knock him down, but six years ago, one fighter arguably should have.
On December 14, 2019, Crawford defended his WBO welterweight title for the third time at Madison Square Garden, having initially won it from Jeff Horn 18 months prior. Following a contentious win over Amir Khan, where Crawford’s low blow forced the Englishman’s corner to stop the fight, he took on Egidijus Kavaliauskas eight months later. In that bout, Crawford scored three knockdowns before a ninth-round TKO, yet the fight was surrounded by debate. Kavaliauskas, then 21-0-1 and known for his power, seemed to rock Crawford, who was briefly “knocked down” in the third round—a move not recognized by the referee, sparking controversy. Many still regard Kavaliauskas as the only fighter to have truly bested Crawford, though ultimately, he succumbed to Crawford’s precision strikes.
Interestingly, Crawford later admitted that Kavaliauskas hit harder than even Canelo Alvarez, praising “Mean Machine’s” power during his post-fight comments following the historic Las Vegas victory this year. Since his loss to Crawford, Kavaliauskas has gone 2-4 in six fights, most recently reclaiming the European welterweight title by beating Samuel Molina in November.
Fan Take: This story highlights Crawford’s extraordinary resilience and skill in the ring, underscoring why he remains an elite fighter. For fight fans, it’s a reminder of how even the greatest champions can face moments of vulnerability, which adds intrigue and excitement about who might truly challenge “Bud” next.
