Bold headline: Terence Crawford’s reign as undisputed champion hits a surprising setback as the WBC strips his belt.
Terence Crawford’s run as the sport’s undisputed champion has proven shorter than expected. The 38-year-old American added a third weight-class belt to his resume in September, securing another undisputed crown with a dominant victory over Canelo Álvarez. This triumph extended his earlier triumphs at welterweight in 2023 and at super-lightweight in 2017. Whether Crawford remains at 168 pounds, or, as some rumors suggest, moves down to middleweight, remains to be seen. For now, he holds three of the four super-middleweight titles.
The WBC stripped Crawford of its super middleweight title, citing unpaid sanctioning fees. The organization confirmed at its annual convention in Thailand (running from November 30 to December 5) that Crawford had not paid fees for his last two bouts and had not communicated with the WBC since September.
This development could shape Crawford’s next steps and also opens the door for a new champion. With the belt vacant, the WBC has ordered interim titlist Christian Mbilli to fight No. 2 contender Hamzah Sheeraz for the full title.
If the Mbilli–Sheeraz match happens, it promises high drama: the aggressive, high-volume Frenchman against the tall, hard-hitting Brit who recently dismantled Edgar Berlanga. Mbilli also retained his interim belt via a draw with Lester Martinez in September; Martinez has since become the mandatory challenger for the winner.
Thought-provoking questions emerge: Should Crawford have kept the belt despite the nonpayment controversy? Is this the moment for a British boxer to ascend as the new WBC champion at 168 pounds? Share your take in the comments: does the sanctioning-fee dispute change how you view Crawford’s legacy, and who should claim the vacant title?
