In a stunning move that has rocked the boxing world, the WBC has stripped Terence Crawford of his super middleweight world title. The decision paves the way for a major opportunity for Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz, who is now set to fight for the vacant championship.
Why Crawford Lost His Title
The WBC's president, Mauricio Sulaiman, made the announcement at the governing body's annual convention in Bangkok, Thailand. The reason for the drastic action was clear: Terence Crawford failed to pay required sanctioning fees for his last two high-profile bouts.
Sulaiman revealed that Crawford owed $300,000 for his historic September victory over Canelo Alvarez, which had crowned him the undisputed champion. This came after a previous failure to pay fees following his win against Israil Madrimov in August of last year.
"The WBC put champion Crawford on notice of his failure to comply with express mandates of the WBC rules and regulations," Sulaiman stated. He expressed frustration that multiple communications to Crawford, his manager, and his lawyers went completely unanswered. "The WBC had no choice but to act," he concluded, describing the champion's silence as "a slap in the face".
A New Champion Will Be Crowned
With the title now vacant, the WBC has moved swiftly to mandate a fight for the belt. Interim champion Christian Mbilli has been ordered to face the number two contender, Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz.
This creates a huge chance for Sheeraz to become a world champion. The winner of that contest will then be required to defend the title against Lester Martinez, who fought Mbilli to a draw on the undercard of the very Crawford-Alvarez fight that triggered this saga.
The End of a Brief Reign
For Terence Crawford, the stripping ends his tenure as the undisputed super middleweight king after just 81 days. His unanimous decision win over Alvarez in September was a career-defining moment, securing the WBA, IBF, WBO, and WBC belts. However, his failure to meet the WBC's financial obligations has cost him one of those crowns.
The focus now shifts to the new contenders. For British fight fans, all eyes will be on Hamzah Sheeraz as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career against the formidable Christian Mbilli, with a world championship on the line.
