Terence Crawford has criticized WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman after losing his WBC super-middleweight title. Crawford achieved the undisputed 168lb championship in a historic win against Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, becoming the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.
However, Crawford’s reign as the undisputed super-middleweight champion was short-lived as Sulaiman announced that Crawford was stripped of his title due to unpaid sanctioning fees. Crawford expressed his frustration, stating that he refused to pay the fees and questioned the WBC’s superiority over other sanctioning bodies.
In a separate boxing event, Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are set to compete in a heavyweight clash in Miami on December 19. The fight will be broadcast live on Netflix, available for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, the lowest price offered by Sky for TV services.
Sulaiman retaliated against Crawford’s refusal to pay the fees, calling it a disrespectful act considering the financial support provided by the WBC for Crawford’s previous fights. The WBC has now declared the super-middleweight championship vacant following Crawford’s dethronement.
Following the decision, a vacant title fight has been scheduled between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli. Mbilli previously won the interim title by defeating Maciej Sulecki and retaining it with a draw against Lester Martinez. Sheeraz, on the other hand, last fought in July, securing a knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga.
The WBC’s swift actions demonstrate their commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring that the championship remains prestigious and competitive.