Terence Crawford: Stripped of Belt — Why It Happened, What Belts He Still Holds & What’s Next

The boxing world was stunned on December 3, 2025, when Terence Crawford — widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters — was stripped of his World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight title. The reason? Not a loss in the ring, but a failure to pay mandatory sanctioning fees — a decision that has triggered major debate across the sport. This article dives into what happened, what belts “Bud” still retains, and what implications it may have for his legacy and the 168-lb division.

What Happened: Crawford’s Rise and the Shock Strip

In September 2025, Crawford accomplished what few boxers ever do: he moved up two weight classes to fight Canelo Alvarez at 168 pounds, and defeated him over 12 rounds to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion. 

This victory added the WBC belt to his collection, making him one of the few boxers to hold multiple major belts across divisions. 

Yet, on December 3, 2025, the WBC announced that they were stripping Crawford of the super-middleweight title — not because he lost a fight, but because he allegedly failed to pay sanctioning fees for his last two bouts (the Canelo fight and a 2024 win over Israil Madrimov). 

According to the WBC, the fees owed amounted to approximately US$300,000, even though they had reduced the standard rate (normally 3% of the purse) to 0.6%, acknowledging the mega-purse for the Canelo fight. 

When repeated communications and demands went unanswered from Crawford and his representatives (manager, legal counsel), the WBC Board voted to declare the title vacant. 

Why It Matters — Not Just a Belt, But Boxing Politics

This incident shines a harsh light on how much control sanctioning bodies exert over boxers — not just in the ring but behind the scenes. For many fans, it’s jarring to see an “undisputed champion” lose a belt without being defeated, purely over financial/paperwork issues. The WBC described the situation as deeply regrettable and “a slap in the face,” especially given they had helped facilitate the blockbuster fight against Canelo, made a custom championship belt and ring, and even applied a discounted fee. 

From the WBC’s perspective, the decision wasn’t personal but procedural: no payment — no belt. Their statement emphasized that multiple notices, communications, and opportunities had been extended. 

For Crawford, though, the move raises serious questions about the relationship between elite boxers and sanctioning organizations. Some critics argue that sanctioning fees — especially after massive purses — are an outdated practice; others contend that enforcement consistency is key for the integrity of titles.

What Belts Does Crawford Still Hold?

Even after being stripped by WBC, Crawford remains champion under several other major sanctioning bodies. As of December 2025:

• He still holds the titles from the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO). 

• That means while he’s no longer “undisputed super-middleweight champion” because “undisputed” requires holding all major belts (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO), he remains a multi-belt champion in the 168-lb division. 

Crawford’s historical status is also nuanced by past incidents: in 2023, he was stripped of the IBF welterweight title after choosing not to fight the mandatory challenger for that belt, even though he had unified all welterweight belts previously. 

What Happens Next — The Vacant Belt & Division Shake-up

With the WBC belt now vacant, the sanctioning body has ordered a title fight between interim champion Christian Mbilli and rising contender Hamzah Sheeraz. 

The fight — once scheduled — will crown a new WBC super-middleweight champion. That could significantly reshape the division, especially if the new champion looks to unify belts against Crawford, or other belt-holders. 

For Crawford himself, his future could go in multiple directions:

• He might try to regain the WBC belt in a rematch or new bout.

• He could drop back to a lower weight class for a fresh run.

• Or he could simply continue defending the belts he still holds — though without the “undisputed” label.

The Broader Debate: Fees, Fairness and Sanctioning Bodies

This episode reignites long-standing debates in boxing:

• Sanctioning fees vs. fighter earnings: Many argue that when fighters earn tens of millions in purses, an additional fee — sometimes hundreds of thousands — feels excessive or unfair. Supporters of fees argue they fund the sanctioning bodies, their operations, and services such as funds for retired fighters. In this case, the WBC said 75% of Crawford’s fee would go to a fund supporting retired fighters. 

• Consistency and enforcement: Some boxers have been stripped or pressured for fees in the past; others reportedly have not. Fans and fighters question whether enforcement is even-handed.

• Titles vs. Legacy: For fighters like Crawford, whose larger legacy transcends single belts, being stripped may not affect public perception — but it complicates the sport’s championship structure and undermines clarity for fans. Terence Crawford.

FAQs

Q: Why was Terence Crawford stripped of his belt?
A: The World Boxing Council stripped him of the super-middleweight (168 lb) belt because he allegedly failed to pay mandatory sanctioning fees for his last two championship fights — one vs Canelo Alvarez (September 2025) and earlier vs Israil Madrimov (August 2024).

Q: How much was the fee Crawford missed?
A: For the Canelo fight, the fee was reportedly reduced from the standard 3% to 0.6% because of Crawford’s huge purse; that still translated to roughly US$300,000. 

Q: Does being stripped make his win over Canelo invalid?
A: No. The outcome of the fight remains. The strip only means he no longer holds the WBC belt — his victory, record, and other belts remain intact.

Q: Which belts does Crawford still have after this decision?
A: He retains the titles from WBA, IBF and WBO at super-middleweight. 

Q: Who will fight for the vacant WBC belt now?
A: The WBC has ordered a fight between interim champion Christian Mbilli and contender Hamzah Sheeraz for the vacant super-middleweight title. Terence Crawford.

What This Means — For Crawford, for Boxing

For Crawford, this moment is a painful reminder that championship belts in modern boxing are as much about compliance with administrative rules as they are about performance in the ring. Despite his phenomenal win over Canelo and an undefeated record, a paperwork/financial lapse stripped him of one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.

For boxing as a sport, the incident raises uncomfortable truths about sanctioning bodies’ power, the role of sanctioning fees, and the ever-shifting landscape of what it means to be “champion.” Fans hoping for clarity and stability might be disappointed; few things are more political than title belts.

But for Crawford — a fighter who’s proved himself repeatedly — this may not be the end. Whether he fights to reclaim the WBC belt or continues on another path, his legacy is already cemented.