Terence Crawford expressed strong criticism towards WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman following the removal of his WBC super-middleweight title. Crawford achieved undisputed 168lb champion status with a historic win over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas last September, making him the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.
However, Crawford’s reign as the undisputed king at super-middleweight came to an abrupt end as Sulaiman confirmed the stripping of his green and gold belt due to unpaid sanctioning fees. Crawford vehemently reacted to the decision, emphasizing his discontent with the situation during an Instagram live session.
In a separate boxing event, Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are set to battle in a heavyweight clash in Miami on December 19. The fight will be streamed live on Netflix, available for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, marking the brand’s lowest price for Sky TV.
The dispute between Crawford and Sulaiman escalated with Crawford questioning the WBC’s authority and expressing frustration over the financial burden placed on fighters for sanctioning fees. Sulaiman responded by highlighting the role of the WBC in facilitating lucrative fights like Crawford-Canelo, expressing disappointment at Crawford’s non-compliance with the sanctioning body’s financial obligations.
Subsequently, the WBC announced a vacant title fight between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli to fill the void left by Crawford’s dethronement. Mbilli previously held the interim title, securing it with victories over Sulecki and Martinez, while Sheeraz’s last fight was a knockout win over Berlanga.
The WBC’s decision to move forward with the vacant title bout underscores their commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring a competitive landscape for future champions.