‘Slap in the face’ – Terence Crawford stripped of world title after failing to pay $300k fee

Terence Crawford has been stripped of his WBC super middleweight.

The WBC belt was one of four world titles, alongside the WBA, IBF and WBO straps, that Crawford snatched from Canelo Alvarez in September to become undisputed 168lbs champion.

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However, less than three months later, at the WBC convention in Bangkok, Thailand, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced that Crawford had lost his recognition as champion after non-payment of sanctioning fees for his last two bouts.

Sulaiman declared Crawford had failed to cough up $300,000 – 0.6 per cent of his $50million purse for the Canelo showdown.

This came after ‘Bud’ refused a payment for his victory over Israil Madrimov at super welterweight in August.

Sulaiman described Crawford’s actions as a “slap in the face” to the major sanctioning body.

“The WBC was instrumental in making Crawford-Canelo,” said Sulaiman.

“For making an event with multi-million dollars at stake.

“For both fighters’ life-changing money for their families and their next generations.

“We did many things, that ring that made news all over the world, made statues… just to receive a slap in the face, it is sad.

“But the WBC and boxing is about everyone. Boxing is about any organisation, any promoter, any fighter.

“As long as we honour and we respect, we will go on.

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“And then the next champion will be as good or better than the champion that had it.

“The championship is now vacant.”

What will happen with the vacant world title?

The WBC has now voted to have interim champion Christian Mbilli and Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz duke it out for the vacant world title.

Lester Martinez, who held Mbilli to a draw on the Canelo-Crawford undercard, will then face the winner.

The WBC had initially ordered an immediate rematch between Mbilli and Martinez.

However, the Guatemalan boxer will have to wait a little while longer.