Undisputed super-middleweight champion Terence Crawford has been brutally stripped of his WBC title, leading to an explosive and profanity-laden attack on the sanctioning body's president, Mauricio Sulaiman.
The Title Stripping and Crawford's Furious Reaction
The WBC confirmed on Wednesday that it had dispossessed Terence 'Bud' Crawford of its coveted green and gold belt due to unpaid sanctioning fees. The decision comes just months after Crawford's historic victory over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas last September, a win that made him the undisputed champion at 168lbs and the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.
Responding via an Instagram live session, Crawford did not hold back. He targeted the reported $300,000 in unpaid fees, plus an additional $100,000 for sanctioning, that Sulaiman cited. "Who the f*** do you think I am?" Crawford demanded. "I ain't paying your a**** s***. What makes you so much better than the other sanctioning bodies?"
He dismissed the prestige of the WBC belt, stating, "The f***ing real belt is The Ring belt... You can take the f***ing belt. It's a trophy anyway."
Crawford's Accusations of Extravagance
The American fighter's anger extended to what he portrayed as the luxurious lifestyle of sanctioning body officials funded by fighters' fees. "It irks my nerves that this dude gets on a plane, gets a hotel suite for him and his buddies, they go out for five-star meals and dinners and all of that, and guess who has to pay for it? Us fighters," Crawford claimed.
He argued that boxers are essentially taxed by these organisations. "We are paying for you to come out here and have the time of your life. It's all done on our dime. Does that sound right to y'all?"
The WBC's Defence and Immediate Aftermath
Hours before Crawford's outburst, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman had described the non-payment as a "slap in the face." He defended the organisation's role in Crawford's career-high payday against Alvarez, believed to be around $50 million.
"He forgot how he got to make $50 million," Sulaiman said. "The WBC was instrumental in making Crawford-Canelo... just to receive a slap in the face, it is sad."
The governing body has moved swiftly to fill the vacancy, ordering a fight between interim champion Christian Mbilli and British contender Hamzah Sheeraz. Mbilli earned his interim status in June, while Sheeraz last fought in July.
This dramatic clash highlights the ongoing tension between elite fighters and boxing's sanctioning organisations, centring on the substantial fees charged for title fights. Crawford's status as an undisputed champion is now technically over, though his blistering critique has resonated with many in the sport who question the value provided by these governing bodies.
