Terence Crawford recently commented on comparisons between himself and the legendary Four Kings of 1980s boxing. The retired champion, who hung up his gloves in December last year with a flawless 42-0 record, shared his perspective on how he measures up against the iconic quartet.
The Four Kings era of the 1980s featured some of boxing’s most memorable rivalries. The legendary group engaged in epic battles with one another that boxing fans continue to debate more than 30 years later.
Crawford opened up on his own career while speaking to The Ring, and was asked how he believes he shaped up compared to each of Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran.
“To be honest, I had a little bit of all of them. I wouldn’t say I only had one of their styles because I do so much in the ring.
“Like Marvin Hagler, I’m a southpaw. Like Sugar Ray Leonard, I can box on my toes. Like Roberto Duran, I can roll with the punches, catch, shoot, and throw from underneath. With Tommy Hearns, I can fight from the outside with a good, sharp jab.
I’m all of that in one. … [I would fight] any of them – just pick one of them.”
Crawford’s Historic Career
Crawford retired as one of the most decorated fighters in boxing history. He won 18 major world championships across five weight classes, including undisputed titles at light welterweight, welterweight, and super middleweight.
The Omaha native became the only boxer to hold The Ring magazine title in four divisions. He is also one of just three four-division lineal champions in the sport’s history.
Unmatched Dominance
Crawford’s final fight came on September 12, last year, when he defeated Saul Alvarez by unanimous decision over 12 rounds in Las Vegas. The victory secured the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles, capping a remarkable career spanning 2008 to 2025.
Throughout his career, Crawford was never knocked down. He compiled an 11-fight consecutive knockout streak in world title fights and finished with 31 knockouts in 42 victories.
