Terence Crawford has launched a scathing attack on WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman following the revocation of his WBC super-middleweight title.
Crawford, known as ‘Bud,’ achieved undisputed 168lb champion status by defeating Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas last September, making history as the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.
However, Crawford’s reign as the undisputed super-middleweight champion was abruptly terminated by Sulaiman due to unpaid sanctioning fees, as confirmed by the WBC president on Wednesday.
In response to the decision, Crawford expressed his discontent, stating on an Instagram live session that he refused to pay Sulaiman the owed fees and questioned the WBC’s perceived superiority over other sanctioning bodies.
Meanwhile, a heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul is scheduled for December 19 in Miami, to be broadcast live on Netflix. Viewers can access the fight for free through Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, which is being promoted as the brand’s most affordable Sky TV offering.
Sulaiman, in response to Crawford’s non-payment of $300,000 in fees, described it as a significant disrespect to the WBC, highlighting the role the organization played in facilitating lucrative fights like Crawford vs. Canelo. However, Sulaiman emphasized that boxing is a collective effort involving multiple stakeholders and expressed disappointment at the turn of events.
Following Crawford’s title strip, the WBC swiftly arranged a title fight between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli. Mbilli, who previously claimed the interim title with victories over Sulecki and Martinez, will face Sheeraz, the British boxer coming off a notable knockout win against Berlanga.
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