Drastic decision by the WBC: Terence Crawford is stripped of his super middleweight world title due to outstanding payments. Mbilli and Sheeraz are now to fight for the vacant belt.
At the WBC Annual Congress in Bangkok on Wednesday, there was a bombshell: Terence Crawford was stripped of his super middleweight title. The reason is outstanding sanctioning fees from his last two fights, including the
“That’s a slap in the face – he’s forgotten how he got 50 million dollars in the purse in the first place,” said Sulaiman unusually sharply. After Crawford’s triumph over Israil Madrimov in 2024, the association had already waited in vain for the fees due. The consequence: the belt is vacant. The WBC board voted in favor of allowing interim champion Christian Mbilli and England’s Hamzah Sheeraz to fight for the world title. Lester Martinez, who wrestled a draw from Mbilli in September, has the right to challenge the winner.
Crawford himself has not yet commented – but one thing is certain: The undefeated champion has suffered a serious setback in the political power structure of the world governing body. If he is to continue to fight major duels, he will have to sit down at the table with the WBC again.
Text by Robin Josten