Ali Akbar Rosady
LAS VEGAS, NV – In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, unified champion Terence Crawford has been stripped of his World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight title. The decision, announced on Wednesday, stems from Crawford’s refusal to pay the sanctioning fees associated with his recent championship bout against Canelo Alvarez. In response, Crawford unleashed a scathing and expletive-laden critique of the WBC and its president, Mauricio Sulaiman, via social media, declaring, "You can take the f*cking belt. It’s a trophy anyway!"
The news broke on Wednesday morning, confirming that the WBC had moved to vacate the 168-pound title Crawford had captured just weeks prior. The core issue, according to the WBC, was Crawford’s non-payment of the stipulated sanctioning fees for his monumental clash with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez. These fees, standard practice across all major boxing organizations, represent a percentage of a fighter’s purse and are crucial for the operational costs, regulatory oversight, and championship infrastructure maintained by sanctioning bodies.
Crawford wasted no time in publicly addressing the decision, taking to his Instagram account later that same day to voice his profound displeasure and frustration. His comments were directed pointedly at WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, whom Crawford accused of personal animosity and institutional corruption.
"Mauricio got a lot to say about me not paying him $300,000 plus another $100K-something for a sanctioning fee," Crawford stated, referencing the combined sum he allegedly owed. "Then he’s gonna tell me I need to apologize. Who the fck you think I am? Boy, you better slap your fcking self. I ain’t paying your ass, shit. What the fck you talking about, pay you $300,000. What makes you so motherfcking better than any other sanctioning body? Answer that question."
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Crawford’s outburst underscored a long-standing point of contention for many fighters: the perceived disproportionate power and financial demands of sanctioning bodies. He argued that the WBC, with its iconic green belt, holds an inflated sense of self-importance compared to other organizations. "Everybody accepted what I was giving them. The WBC think that you better than everybody, and you’ve got the fcking green belt, which don’t mean fcking shit. You want me to pay you more than the other sanctioning bodies because you feel like you’re better than them."
The Omaha, Nebraska native, renowned for his technical prowess and calculated aggression in the ring, then directly challenged the very premise of the fees. "You can take the fcking belt. It’s a trophy anyway! What the fck am I paying you every time I step foot in the fcking ring? I’m the motherfcker that’s putting my life on the line, not you! You ain’t stepping your motherf*cking ass in that ring. Why should I have to pay to carry your belt? You should be paying me!"
Sanctioning fees are an integral, albeit often controversial, component of professional boxing. The four major sanctioning bodies – the WBC, WBA (World Boxing Association), IBF (International Boxing Federation), and WBO (World Boxing Organization) – each levy a fee for their championship belts to be contested. Typically, this fee amounts to a percentage of a fighter’s purse, often around 3%, with caps in place for larger paydays. For instance, the WBC historically caps its fee at $1.5 million for championship bouts.
Crawford’s recent bout against Canelo Alvarez was a career-defining moment, reportedly netting him a purse in the region of $50 million. A standard 3% fee on this amount would have equated to $1.5 million. However, reports indicate that the WBC had agreed to significantly reduce its fee for Crawford, lowering it to a mere 0.6 percent, which still amounted to the $300,000 figure Crawford cited. Despite this considerable reduction, Crawford remained unwilling to remit the payment, ultimately leading to the WBC’s decision to strip him of the title.
Beyond the financial dispute, Crawford suggested a deeper, more personal motive behind the WBC’s actions, alleging bias in favor of Canelo Alvarez. "Mauricio, everybody in the world knows you were going for Canelo," Crawford claimed. "You was mad that I beat Canelo. It’s OK. It happens. Say congratulations, instead of having that little smirk on your face, all mad and pouting. You should’ve took the money, and you should have been thankful and grateful that I was rocking your belt around as your champion. But you wanted to make it about you."
Terence "Bud" Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) has long been considered one of boxing’s elite pound-for-pound talents. Prior to his move to super middleweight, he achieved undisputed status at welterweight (147 pounds) in 2023 by defeating Errol Spence Jr., unifying all four major world titles in a dominant performance. His decision to move up two weight classes to challenge Canelo Alvarez (62-3-2, 39 KOs) for the super middleweight championship was a testament to his ambition and pursuit of historical greatness. The September 2024 clash in Las Vegas saw Crawford deliver another masterclass, outpointing Alvarez to capture the WBC super middleweight title. It is important to note that while Crawford won the WBC title, Canelo had entered the fight as the undisputed super middleweight champion, holding the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts as well. Crawford therefore became a champion at 168 pounds, specifically the WBC titleholder, but not the undisputed champion of the division, a status he held at welterweight.
Crawford further fueled his claims of favoritism by drawing a stark comparison to the prolonged situation involving David Benavidez. Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) has been the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s WBC super middleweight title for an extended period, with many in the boxing community advocating for the fight. Despite Benavidez’s consistent positioning and public demand, the WBC has not stripped Canelo of his belt for not facing his mandatory challenger. This perceived disparity in treatment resonated deeply with Crawford.
"You’re not for these fighters. You’re probably worse than the promoters," Crawford asserted. "They’ve got they ranking systems when people be mandatories for year, like [David] Benavidez, they don’t strip these fighters. The WBC, you ain’t never see them strip Canelo for Benavidez. He was what, mandatory for like two years? It’s crazy. That’s that favoritism shit."
This sentiment reflects a broader discontent within the boxing community regarding the inconsistent application of rules by sanctioning bodies, often perceived to favor bigger names and more lucrative matchups.
In his impassioned address, Crawford also voiced support for the nascent boxing league being developed by Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh and UFC CEO Dana White. This venture is widely seen as a potential disruptor to the traditional boxing landscape, aiming to streamline the sport and reduce the influence of existing power structures, including sanctioning bodies and promoters.
"Turki, I hope y’all get that done," Crawford said. "I hope y’all get that done so we can all see people like this guy go away from boxing, because they ruin the sport."
Despite being stripped, Crawford maintained that his legacy and standing in the sport remain undiminished. "Oh well, you stripped me. I’ve been stripped before. It doesn’t matter. I’m still considered the undisputed champion [at welterweight]. I’m still the champion in the division. How you love that? Can’t take that away from me. History already been made, baby. I am legend."
The WBC’s decision leaves its super middleweight title vacant, setting the stage for potential new challengers to vie for the prestigious green belt. For Crawford, the incident marks another chapter in a career characterized by both unparalleled success and occasional friction with boxing’s governing bodies. His outspoken stance, while controversial, has resonated with many who advocate for greater transparency and fairness in the sport. The repercussions of this dispute are likely to extend beyond a single title, fueling ongoing discussions about the future structure and governance of professional boxing.
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