Terence Crawford has strongly criticized WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman following the revocation of his WBC super-middleweight title.
Crawford achieved the status of undisputed champion at 168lbs with a significant win over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, making him the first male boxer in recent times to hold undisputed titles in three weight classes.
However, Crawford’s reign as the undisputed super-middleweight champion has come to an abrupt end as Sulaiman confirmed that Crawford was stripped of his green and gold belt due to unpaid sanctioning fees.
In response to the decision, Crawford expressed his displeasure, stating that he was not willing to pay the demanded fees and questioning the superiority of the WBC over other sanctioning bodies.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are set to compete in a heavyweight clash in Miami on December 19, with the fight being broadcast live on Netflix. Fans can access the fight for free through Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, the lowest price ever offered for Sky TV.
The situation escalated as Sulaiman labeled Crawford’s failure to pay the $300,000 sanctioning fees as a significant disrespect. Sulaiman highlighted the WBC’s role in facilitating the Crawford-Canelo event and emphasized the importance of honoring agreements in the boxing community.
Following the stripping of Crawford’s title, a vacant title fight has been arranged between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli. Mbilli, who won the interim title by defeating Maciej Sulecki and drawing with Lester Martinez, will face Sheeraz, the British boxer known for his knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga.
The WBC’s decision to move forward with a new title fight signifies their commitment to upholding the integrity and competitiveness of the sport despite the recent controversy surrounding Crawford’s title loss.