Overview
- World Boxing Council stripped Terence Crawford of its super-middleweight title this week, citing unpaid sanctioning fees for the Canelo Álvarez bout and a 2024 Madrimov fight after what it says were multiple unanswered notices.
- Mauricio Sulaimán said Crawford “is not going to find in the World Boxing Council a rival to fight,” signaling an opponent freeze for the fighter in WBC ranks following his public refusal to pay.
- The WBC says it capped Crawford’s fee at about $300,000—0.6% of a reported $50 million purse—and states that 75% supports the José Sulaimán Boxers Fund and 25% covers WBC staff.
- The WBC has moved to fill the vacancy by ordering Christian Mbilli vs. Hamzah Sheeraz for the super-middleweight belt, according to multiple reports.
- Crawford dismissed the belt in a profanity-laced video, while Eddie Hearn argued champions must “pay your dues,” and Oscar De La Hoya accused Crawford of echoing TKO’s push to reduce the belts’ influence.