Terence Crawford expressed strong criticism towards WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman following the revocation of his WBC super-middleweight title. Crawford, known as ‘Bud,’ achieved the undisputed 168lb championship with a historic victory over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, making him the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.

However, Crawford’s reign as the undisputed king at super-middleweight came to an abrupt end as Sulaiman confirmed the stripping of his green and gold belt due to unpaid sanctioning fees. In response, Crawford vehemently rejected Sulaiman’s claims of outstanding payments, questioning the superiority of the WBC over other sanctioning bodies and emphasizing the symbolic value of championship belts.

In a separate boxing event, Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are set to battle in a heavyweight clash scheduled for December 19 in Miami. The fight will be available for live streaming on Netflix, with fans having access through Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, marking the brand’s most affordable Sky TV offer to date.

Sulaiman, in turn, condemned Crawford’s defiance in neglecting to pay $300,000 in sanctioning fees, describing it as a disrespectful act. The WBC president highlighted the organization’s role in facilitating lucrative fights like Crawford vs. Canelo and expressed disappointment at the lack of appreciation shown towards their efforts.

Following Crawford’s title strip, the WBC swiftly arranged a vacant title fight between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli. Mbilli, who previously held the interim title after defeating Maciej Sulecki, will contend for the vacant championship against Sheeraz, a British boxer known for his knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga.

The WBC’s decision to vacate Crawford’s title reflects their commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring that deserving fighters compete for prestigious championships.