In a move that encapsulates boxing's unique capacity for self-sabotage, the sport's pound-for-pound king has been stripped of a world championship belt not in the ring, but over a financial dispute. Terence Crawford, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, has lost his WBC super-middleweight title after a public and acrimonious falling out with the sanctioning body over unpaid fees.
The Fee Dispute That Cost a Belt
The controversy erupted from the WBC convention in Bangkok this week. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman revealed that Crawford had been stripped for failing to pay sanctioning fees, reportedly for his historic fight against Canelo Alvarez and one previous bout. Sulaiman labelled Crawford's refusal "a slap in the face", a comment that drew a furious response from the undefeated American.
In a social media video, Crawford fired back: "Boy, you better slap your f***ing self, I ain't paying your ass s***... You can take the f***ing belt, it's a trophy anyway." He questioned why the WBC demanded more than other bodies and challenged the value of its iconic green belt.
Sulaiman provided specific figures, stating Crawford earned around $50 million for defeating Canelo. The WBC president claimed the organisation had reduced its standard 3% fee to just 0.6% for that fight, amounting to approximately $300,000. He further contended that $225,000 of that sum was destined for the WBC's Boxers Fund, a charity established by his late father to support fighters in need.
A Historic Reign Cut Short
This messy episode casts a shadow over one of modern boxing's most remarkable achievements. Just three months ago, in September 2025, Crawford ventured two weight classes above his usual limit to face the naturally bigger Canelo Alvarez. His masterful performance secured a victory that made him the first three-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
However, his unified reign at super-middleweight lasted a mere 81 days. The stripping of the WBC title means he no longer holds all four major belts, an anticlimactic footnote to a sporting feat that should have been celebrated without reservation.
What Happens Next for the Vacant Title?
The WBC has moved quickly to fill the vacancy. The body has ordered a fight between Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz and interim champion Christian Mbilli for the now-vacant title. The winner is then mandated to face Lester Martinez, who drew with Mbilli on the undercard of the Crawford-Canelo fight.
Crawford, for his part, has dismissed the significance of the WBC strap, suggesting The Ring magazine title is the "real" belt because it is free. This highlights the ongoing debate within boxing about the value and legitimacy of the various sanctioning organisations and their often-criticised fee structures.
Boxing's Recurring Problem
This dispute reinforces a perennial issue in boxing: the sport's tendency to generate controversy outside the ropes that detracts from the athleticism inside them. The Crawford-WBC feud was not the only eyebrow-raising development from the Bangkok convention.
Other notable decisions included granting heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk a voluntary defence, potentially against Deontay Wilder, naming Conor Benn as the number one welterweight contender despite a thin recent resume, and reports of a potential crossover fight involving Katie Taylor and Ronda Rousey.
Ultimately, the saga leaves fans questioning the priorities of the sport's governing bodies. Whether one views Crawford as making a principled stand against exploitative fees or shirking a responsibility that partly funds fighter welfare, the outcome is the same: a needless stain on a legendary career and yet another example of boxing's capacity for farce.
