From White’s perspective, that exit came too soon.
“One hundred percent, he’s an all-around great,” White said 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 after a 17-year career, saying he felt 38 was old enough and that he had nothing left to prove. He closed the door quietly, without posting for one last run, and followed it up with a private retirement celebration for family and friends.
In hindsight, it made sense to walk away. Crawford would have entered any title defense at super middleweight as the smaller man, against opponents who were younger, naturally bigger and still building momentum. Rather than take those risks, he vacated the titles and left on his own terms.
However, White is in the early stages of launching Zuffa Boxing and has made no secret of having 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 have some fights here, see how things play out,” White said. “And I might call him in the next six to seven months.”
The idea comes with obvious limitations. White didn’t say what a Crawford fight would look like under the Zuffa banner, and the current roster doesn’t offer many natural matchups. Newly signed IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is way too big. Furthermore, the pool is quickly thinning when it comes to names that would warrant a Crawford return.
Money would be the lever. If White was willing to approach the reported $50 million Crawford earned for the Alvarez fight, it would be hard to rule out a return, even for a one-time mismatch. Without that kind of incentive, there is little in the house that matches Crawford’s size, stature or expectations.
For now, Crawford seems 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.
