Terence Crawford has criticized WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman for stripping him of his WBC super-middleweight title. Crawford achieved undisputed 168lb champion status in September with a historic win over Canelo Alvarez, becoming the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.
However, Crawford’s reign as the undisputed champion was short-lived as Sulaiman announced that the American boxer had been dethroned due to unpaid sanctioning fees. Crawford expressed his frustration, stating on an Instagram live session that he refused to pay the fees and questioned the WBC’s perceived superiority over other sanctioning bodies.
In a separate development, Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are set to clash in a heavyweight fight in Miami on December 19. The fight will be available for streaming on Netflix, included in Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle.
Sulaiman responded to Crawford’s refusal to pay the fees, calling it a disrespectful gesture considering the WBC’s role in organizing lucrative fights like Crawford-Canelo. He emphasized the importance of respect in boxing and announced the vacancy of Crawford’s title.
Following the decision, the WBC swiftly arranged a title fight between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli to fill the vacant position. Mbilli, who previously held the interim title, will face Sheeraz, the British fighter known for his knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga.
