Terence Crawford was visibly ecstatic as he watched his son secure a Nebraska state wrestling championship.
Terence Crawford Jr., a 14-year-old freshman at Omaha North High School, won the Nebraska Class A 106-pound state title at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.
Cameras captured the boxing great reacting enthusiastically from the stands as the moment quickly spread across social media. It marked a rare public glimpse of emotion from a fighter long known for his composure.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
The freshman navigated the state tournament with a 4-0 record, earning two pins along with a technical fall and a major decision. In the final, he defeated Grand Island's Riley Pedersen by a 13-1 score to claim the title.
Crawford Jr. concluded his first high school season with a 36-6 overall record, underscoring a strong debut campaign. Following the victory, he reflected on the performance and the preparation behind it.
"It feels great. I just had to be dominant out there. I expect what I train for, so I know if I am training hard, then the results will show for themselves."
"The feeling of being a state champion is better than I expected; it's so great for me. It feels great for me that my family saw me on top of the world, top of the state."
Crawford Sr., who stepped away from boxing in December 2025 after defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion, attended the tournament in support of his son.
Observers noted his animated reaction as the final whistle confirmed the result, which was captured by those in attendance.
The celebration highlighted a different side of the former champion, whose professional career spanned 17 years and included titles across five weight divisions.
With a state championship already secured as a freshman, Crawford Jr. has begun establishing his own competitive identity in Nebraska wrestling.
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