Terrence Crawford Appeals WBC Title Stripping

Terrence Crawford has reached out to the World Boxing Council (WBC) following the removal of his undisputed super-middleweight world title due to unpaid fines from his last two fights.

The undefeated boxer, who claimed the title in September with a unanimous decision over Canelo Alvarez, had this victory recognized by the WBC as well as other major sanctioning bodies like the WBA, IBF, and WBO. This bout was officially certified as an undisputed title fight.

However, on Wednesday, the WBC announced that Crawford was stripped of the title, citing a change in the fee structure—from the standard 3% to 0.6%—and an alleged $50 million earning from his fight. Additionally, the WBC claimed Crawford did not make an advance payment for his August 2024 fight against Israil Madrimov.

The WBC stated that they had sent several communications to Crawford, his manager, and his attorney, yet received no acknowledgment or response. The governing body expressed regret over having to take such action after providing multiple opportunities for Crawford to address the situation.

In a passionate and profane response shared on Instagram, Crawford criticized inquiries regarding his earnings from the Alvarez fight and accused WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman of favoritism. He vehemently defended himself, wondering, “Who do you think I am?,” and added, “I didn’t pay you.” He also remarked on the title, “I don’t mind winning the belt! It’s a trophy anyway.”

In light of this development, the WBC has reportedly scheduled a fight between Hamza Sheeras from Britain and Christian Mbili for the now vacant title.