In a dramatic move, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has stripped Terence Crawford of his super middleweight world title. The decision, confirmed on Wednesday 3 December 2025, comes after the champion failed to pay substantial sanctioning fees for his last two high-profile fights.
The 'Slap in the Face' That Cost a Title
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed that Crawford owed the governing body fees totalling $300,000 for his victory over Canelo Alvarez. Furthermore, the undefeated American had also not paid fees following his win against Israil Madrimov last year.
Sulaiman expressed significant frustration at Crawford's conduct, stating the champion had ignored multiple communications from the WBC. The president described this lack of response as "a slap in the face", emphasising that Crawford was given ample opportunity to settle the matter before the drastic action was taken.
Vacant Belt Sets Up New Championship Bout
With the title now officially vacant, the WBC has moved swiftly to mandate a fight for the belt. The governing body has ordered interim champion Christian Mbilli to face British contender Hamzah Sheeraz for the super middleweight championship.
This creates a major opportunity for Sheeraz, propelling him directly into a world title fight. The bout will determine Crawford's formal successor as the WBC's 168-pound champion.
Fallout for Crawford's Legacy
Losing the title outside of the ring marks a significant and unusual blemish on Crawford's stellar career. While he remains a formidable pound-for-pound talent, this administrative failure results in the loss of a major world championship. The situation underscores the stringent financial and regulatory obligations that accompany world titles in professional boxing, obligations even the sport's biggest stars must fulfil.
The focus now shifts to the ordered bout between Mbilli and Sheeraz, which will crown a new WBC champion in a division recently dominated by Crawford's high-profile exploits.
