Terrence Crawford calls Mayweather’s financial troubles a lesson for young athletes

Terence Crawford, the recently retired undefeated five-division champion, weighed in on Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s mounting financial and legal woes, labeling the situation a sobering warning for the next generation of athletes.

Speaking Wednesday on The Ariel Helwani Show, Crawford expressed dismay over Mayweather’s current predicaments. “It’s sad when you hear about the people that are coming at him,” Crawford said, noting that despite earning hundreds of millions throughout his own career, the situation serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change.

Mayweather, 49, who retired with a pristine 50-0 record in 2017 as boxing’s all-time highest earner, has faced a cascade of legal challenges in recent years. He is currently grappling with a $7.3 million IRS lien for unpaid taxes and faces two felony charges related to an alleged $200,000 bad check written in 2024. Adding to his troubles, promoter CSI Entertainment filed a lawsuit in June claiming Mayweather pocketed $4.65 million in advances for proposed bouts against Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao before backing out. The litigation resulted in the cancellation of his scheduled June exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens, Greece.

Crawford, 38, who ended his celebrated career last September with a massive victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to secure his status as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter, emphasized that Mayweather’s fall from grace is a financial cautionary tale. “For young athletes across the globe, it really is a lesson,” Crawford added, echoing the sentiment that immense wealth requires careful stewardship beyond the ring.

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