Will Terence "Bud" Crawford break his vow? Crawford announced his retirement last year. He said he has "nothing else to prove" and "nothing else to accomplish." But the latest development appears to contradict that stance. Crawford could reconsider that decision under favorable conditions.

"Maybe one more!🙃," Crawford wrote on X a few days ago and called out Ryan García, "What's up, @RyanGarcia 160?"

But reality struck soon. "My bad @RyanGarcia," Crawford taunted. "You got (Floyd) Mayweather to focus on; I forgot. 🤷🏿♂️."

Before turning his attention to García, Crawford had called out Gervonta "Tank" Davis. "I wish I was at 135; I'll stop Tank," Crawford wrote. "He talks too much, but be picking and choosing. But we know he would come up with some excuses like he do with Shakur."

On September 12, 2025, Crawford defeated Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez. A bitter dispute with the World Boxing Council (WBC) soon followed. As the issue gained attention, Crawford declared that he's leaving boxing for good. While making appearances at major events, Crawford subsequently transitioned into a boxing pundit.

Even so, what precisely compelled Crawford to tease a return? Or, for that matter, call out García and Tank Davis? Only Crawford can explain the reasons that forced him to post such messages. Otherwise, it would be safe to assume he was merely testing the waters.

It's possible Crawford felt a matchup against García would be a safe bet. García's stock rose after he stopped Conor Benn on September 12, 2026. Crawford and García have been involved in a bitter social media feud. Questioning Crawford's resume, García accused him of facing fighters with questionable records.

Beyond the teasing and taunts, Crawford's posts raise a much bigger question. If Crawford does make a comeback, would he be as successful as he was till last year?

Is the Best of Terence Crawford Still Ahead of Him?

The Nebraskan switch-hitter turned 39 in September. By next month, it will be a year since he entered the ring. The ring rust is bound to affect even a fighter of Crawford's caliber.

Even if García agrees to a fight, it's difficult to imagine a matchup taking place at 160 pounds. Crawford's last fight against Canelo took place at super middleweight. That means he will have to drop weight to make the middleweight limit.

Since the win over Benn, García's name has been linked to several potential matchups. The most notable and workable is the title unification with Teófimo López. García wants to face the WBA title holder in a Cinco de Mayo double header alongside David Benavidez. However, expressing interest in an interim matchup, he also called out Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz.

Why a Middleweight Showdown Remains Unlikely

It's difficult to imagine how García will fit in Crawford's comeback plans. That too for a 160-pound middleweight fight. For García, a fight against Crawford will be legacy-defining. He will earn a multi-million dollar purse. Still, with no title at stake, what purpose would the fight serve for either fighter?

Tank Davis' situation is different. Since his last fight on March 1, 2025, the former lightweight champion has been involved in a string of legal challenges. Insiders suspect he may not be back until the first quarter of 2027. The sheer weight difference between Davis and Crawford makes their matchup highly improbable. Crawford hasn't competed at 135 pounds since the November 2014 title defense against Ray Beltrán.

Given the tone of his comments, fans should take Crawford's words with a grain of salt. He congratulated Canelo after he defeated Christian Mbilli and became champion once again. So it's likely the Mexican star's comeback win prompted Crawford to mock skeptics like García and Davis.

A few months ago, training footage of Crawford triggered speculations that he is gearing up for a comeback. But during an interview, Crawford's longtime trainer revealed that Crawford has retired from boxing for good.

"Bud done, man. He said he's done," BoMac told Brian Custer on The Last Stand podcast. "I respect his decision, and I want him to be done because he has nothing else to prove in the sport." That's something Crawford stated a long time ago.