### Terence Crawford Stripped of WBC Title: A Controversial Fallout Over Sanctioning Fees Terence Crawford, the reigning undisputed super middleweight champion, has been stripped of his WBC title due to a dispute over unpaid sanctioning fees. The World Boxing Council (WBC) claims that Crawford failed to pay a total of $300,000 in fees related to his title defense against Canelo Alvarez, which he won in September 2025. This decision has sparked significant backlash from Crawford, who argues that the WBC's demands are excessive and unjustified. The fallout from this incident has not only affected Crawford's title status but has also led to a new matchup for the vacant belt, with contenders Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli set to fight for it. ### Breakdown of the Situation: Key Segments 1. **Title Stripping Announcement**: The WBC officially announced the stripping of Crawford's title on December 3, 2025, citing non-payment of sanctioning fees as the reason [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2025/12/03/terence-crawford-stripped-wbc-super-middleweight-title/87582114007]. 2. **Crawford's Response**: In a fiery Instagram post, Crawford expressed his outrage, claiming that the WBC's financial demands were unreasonable and that he remains the true champion in the eyes of fans [https://www.mmafighting.com/boxing/459559/terence-crawford-crushes-wbc-for-stripping-him-of-title-you-can-take-the-fcking-belt]. 3. **Promoter's Commentary**: Eddie Hearn, a prominent boxing promoter, criticized Crawford for enjoying the benefits of the title without fulfilling his financial obligations, suggesting that he should have paid the fees [https://www.boxingnews24.com/2025/12/hearn-says-crawford-enjoyed-the-belt-then-refused-to-pay-300k]. 4. **Future Title Fight**: Following the title stripping, the WBC has mandated a fight between Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli for the vacant super middleweight title, indicating a swift move to fill the championship void left by Crawford [https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12040/13478699/hamzah-sheeraz-mandated-for-world-title-shot-after-wbc-strip-super-middleweight-championship-from-terence-crawford]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Sanctioning Fees**: Crawford was reportedly required to pay a total of $300,000 in fees, which he allegedly ignored for over 81 days [https://www.boxingnews24.com/2025/12/crawford-loses-wbc-belt-after-ignoring-300k-bill-for-81-days]. - **Financial Dispute**: The WBC claimed that Crawford's earnings from his fight with Alvarez were around $50 million, making the sanctioning fee a mere 0.6% of his earnings [https://apnews.com/article/crawford-wbc-super-middleweight-belt-6f8f1e3d625ecfe2a9f15368e8719570]. - **Public Reaction**: Crawford's response has garnered significant media attention, with many fans and analysts weighing in on the fairness of the WBC's actions and the implications for Crawford's legacy [https://www.si.com/fannation/boxing/wbc-president-responds-to-terence-crawford-scathing-belt-stripping-criticism]. ### Conclusion: The Implications of the Title Stripping **Crawford's title stripping has significant implications for his career and the boxing landscape**. 1. **Loss of Title**: Crawford is no longer recognized as the WBC super middleweight champion, which could affect his marketability and future fights. 2. **Financial Accountability**: The incident highlights the importance of financial obligations in professional boxing, as failure to comply can lead to severe consequences. 3. **Future Matchups**: The upcoming fight for the vacant title between Sheeraz and Mbilli will be closely watched, as it could set the stage for the next champion in the super middleweight division. In summary, the fallout from Crawford's title stripping not only impacts his career but also raises questions about the practices of sanctioning bodies in boxing [https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-news-three-hundred-grand-controversy-makes-terence-crawford-reveal-only-belt-that-matters-in-clear-message-to-wbc-president].