In a shocking turn of events that has left the boxing world reeling, Terence Crawford has been stripped of his WBC super middleweight title—not for a loss in the ring, but for failing to pay sanctioning fees. Yes, you read that right. The undefeated champion, who pocketed a staggering $50 million after his September victory over Canelo Alvarez, reportedly withheld $300,000 in fees owed to the WBC—a mere 0.6% of his earnings. But here’s where it gets controversial: WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman didn’t hold back, calling Crawford’s actions “a slap in the face” and bluntly stating, “He forgot how he got to make $50 million.” This isn’t the first time Crawford has skipped out on payments, either; he previously denied fees after his August 2024 win over Israil Madrimov. The WBC board has since voted to make the upcoming bout between interim champion Christian Mbilli and England’s Hamzah Sheeraz a title fight for the now-vacant belt. And this is the part most people miss: Lester Martinez, who fought Mbilli to a draw on the Crawford-Alvarez card, is next in line to challenge the winner. Meanwhile, in other boxing news, Oleksandr Usyk has expressed interest in facing Deontay Wilder, a matchup that has divided opinions. While most analysts are excited, Paulie Malignaggi remains unconvinced. Would this fight be a masterpiece or a disaster? Let’s just say, the debate is heating up. Is Crawford’s fee dispute justified, or is he biting the hand that feeds him? Share your thoughts below—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss!
