Crawford, Fury, Taylor: Who were boxing's biggest stars to retire in 2025?

The curtain comes down on 2025 after another vintage year of boxing, offering some of the biggest fights of the modern era during a banner twelve months.

Movement atop the heavyweight ranks, new undisputed champions and an all-timer grudge-match duology are just some of the bouts witnessed by fight fans.

But with each passing calendar comes the march of time, and with it, the decision by plenty of fighters to call time on their professional careers inside the ring.

From a multi-weight pound-for-pound superstar to local heroes, and sporting trailblazers to the sport's kings, here are some of the biggest retirements of 2025.

Terence Crawford

Maybe it was always going to be this way. When 'Bud' stepped out of Las Vegas with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's crown, there truly were few mountains to conquer.

At thirty-eight, he is on the older side of the spectrum too, and many did wonder if success against the super-middleweight kingpin would be his final masterclass.

So it has proven to be. Crawford confirmed his retirement in December, bringing an undefeated pro career with belts in five divisions to a close on his own terms.

Tyson Fury

It's almost a full year since 'The Gypsy King' confirmed he was finished for good after suffering a second loss to Oleksandr Usyk just weeks prior in Saudi Arabia.

The abrupt departure of one of the heavyweight division's biggest characters was something of a shock, especially as talk of a bout with Anthony Joshua swirled.

In true Fury fashion however, it appears his latest retirement may prove to be just a pause again. Speculation is rife he will fight at least once more again in 2026.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Josh Taylor

'The Tartan Tornado' has had the misfortune to often be remembered by fans beyond his native borders for coming out on top in a bad decision with Jack Catterall.

That saw him retain his undisputed light-welterweight crown in 2022, the first British boxer to achieve the feat - but three straight losses since have worn him down.

Defeat in May to Ekow Essuman proved to be his final bout, with the star retiring on medical advice due to an eye injury two months later as one of the modern greats.

Vasiliy Lomachenko

One of the most decorated amateur boxers of all time, with gold medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, the double-Olympian had plenty of professional success too.

The Ukrainian won world titles in three divisions, and stunned home favourite George Kambosos Jr. in his final bout last year to take the IBF lightweight title in Perth.

(Getty Images)

Discussions over a unification bout with Gervonta Davis fell through however, and Lomachenko seemed to lose his mojo, ultimately announcing his retirement this June.

Cecilia Braekhus

The Norwegian is one of the great female boxers in the sport's history, with a blockbuster six-year reign as undisputed welterweight champion between 2014 and 2020.

Her lone losses to Jessica McCaskill between 2020 and 2021 are the only marks against her in a career that saw her ultimately move up to super-welterweight for titles too.

There, in her final professional bout this past September, she dethroned Ema Kozin for the WBC and WBO crowns, hanging up her gloves as a two-weight queen of the sport.

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