Terence Crawford wins Best Fighter at the 2026 ESPYS
Terence Crawford won Best Fighter at the 2026 ESPYS, securing a third career ESPY in the category after his Canelo Alvarez victory and retirement. Fan voting put the boxing star ahead of UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje plus boxers Claressa Shields and Gabriela Fundora.
Key Takeaways
- Terence Crawford took Best Fighter at the 2026 ESPYS, his third win in the category.
- He beat nominees Justin Gaethje, Claressa Shields, and Gabriela Fundora in a fan-driven vote.
- The honor followed his Canelo Alvarez win and subsequent retirement from boxing.
- The result revived debate over whether Best Fighter rewards one historic win or a fuller year of activity.
The 2026 ESPYS aired Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN App from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. ESPN confirmed Terence Crawford as Best Fighter, capping a combat-sports night defined by crossover buzz.
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Who won Best Fighter at the 2026 ESPYS?
Terence Crawford, the retired boxing champion known as "Bud," claimed the Best Fighter ESPY. According to ESPN, he is the 2026 Best Fighter honoree.
The nominee field mixed boxing and MMA. UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje stood alongside Crawford, five-division titleholder Claressa Shields, and undisputed unified flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora.
Why was Terence Crawford's ESPY win surprising?
Going into the show, Gaethje was a heavy betting favorite after wins over Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria. MMA Mania reported odds as steep as -600 at BetOnline, with Polymarket and Kalshi also heavily favoring the UFC champ.
Crawford entered as the retired super middleweight who had defeated Canelo Alvarez last fall before stepping away. Fans still decided the final outcome: ESPN selects the nominees, then opens the vote to the public.
What does Best Fighter really mean after this result?
Boxing News 24/7 noted mixed reaction to Crawford's third Best Fighter ESPY. Critics asked whether the award should favor one defining victory or the strongest overall body of work during the eligibility window.
The ESPYs aim to honor achievements from the previous year, not a full career. ESPN has not published a formula for weighing activity against the size of a single win, leaving the call to the selection committee and fan ballots.
Supporters say beating Canelo was boxing's signature moment of the period. Skeptics argue fighters with more activity—and Gaethje's UFC title run—built a louder year-long case. The split reaction shows there is still no single definition of Best Fighter.