From White’s perspective, that exit came too soon.
“One hundred percent, he’s an all-time great,” White told TMZ. “He decided to retire. I think he should be out there fighting everybody. After seeing the masterpiece he put on that night, he’s so good and talented. I actually like him. He’s a great guy.”
Crawford announced his retirement last month following a 17-year career, saying he felt 38 was old enough and that there was nothing left for him to prove. He closed the door quietly, without posturing for one last run, and followed it with a private retirement celebration for family and friends.
In hindsight, stepping away made sense. Crawford would have entered any title defense at super middleweight as the smaller man, facing opponents who were younger, naturally larger, and still building momentum. Rather than taking on those risks, he vacated the titles and left on his own terms.
White, however, is in the early stages of launching Zuffa Boxing and has made no secret of wanting established stars attached to the project. His first show is scheduled for Friday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and he has openly floated the idea of reaching out to Crawford later this year.
“We’ll put on some fights here, see how things play out,” White said. “And I might give him a call in the next six to seven months.”
The idea comes with obvious limitations. White hasn’t said what a Crawford fight would look like under the Zuffa banner, and the current roster doesn’t offer many natural fits. Newly signed IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is far too big. Beyond that, the pool thins out quickly when it comes to names that would justify a Crawford comeback.
Money would be the lever. If White were willing to approach the reported $50 million Crawford earned for the Alvarez fight, it would be difficult to rule out a return, even for a one-off mismatch. Without that kind of incentive, there is little in-house that aligns with Crawford’s size, stature, or expectations.
For now, Crawford appears content with retirement. White remains unconvinced. Whether that space closes will depend less on legacy arguments and more on whether Zuffa Boxing can offer something that makes sense beyond nostalgia.
