The controversy surrounds the World Boxing Council (WBC) after it decided to strip Terence Crawford of his super middleweight belt for defeating Canelo Alvarez last September.
The organization chaired by Mauricio Sulaiman explained that Crawford (42-0) did not pay the corresponding fees for his last two fights despite several attempts to communicate with him without receiving a response, so he was stripped of the belt for non-compliance.
Saul Alvarez can regain his world championship
“The WBC sent multiple communications to champion Crawford, his manager and his legal counsel. Unfortunately, the WBC did not receive acknowledgment or response to any of those communications. The WBC had no choice but to act, considering that champion Crawford had been given ample notice and multiple opportunities to address and resolve the situation,” the WBC said in a statement on Wednesday, December 3.
And with his title vacant, the WBC has Saul Alvarez (63-3-2) at the top of the list of contenders, as he is the best ranked in the division, but he must request it, as there are two before him who would dispute it: Christian Mbili (29-0-1) and Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1).
“He (Canelo) had surgery, that’s why he was not touched. He is number one and will be ready for when he notifies us that he is in a position to return to fight. He has the doors open and a direct fight for the championship if he so requests,” Sulaiman explained.
Terence Crawford responds to Sulaiman
Faced with the WBC’s decision, Crawford responds to Mauricio Sulaiman and questions him for asking more than other organizations do for fees.
“Who the hell do you think I am? You better slap yourself. I’m not going to pay you. What are you talking about? What makes you f***ing better than the other organizations? The WBA, the WBO and the IBF accepted what I gave them… but you didn’t. You, the WBC, think you’re better than everyone else, don’t you?
And then he says I supposedly made 50 million in the fight with Alvarez. You don’t know how much I made. Again, you’re speculating. So listen, Mauricio: I appreciate you, because everybody knows you were going with Canelo. You were upset because I beat Canelo. It’s okay, those things happen. If you were a true fan of the sport, you would have said ‘congratulations’ instead of putting that little smile on your face, all angry and pouting. You should have taken the money and you should have been grateful that I was carrying your belt as your champion, the WBC champion, the undisputed champion
Then you, the WBC and your damn green belt that means nothing. The real belt is the Ring’s, and that’s free. You can keep your damn belt. It’s just a trophy anyway. Why do I have to pay you every time I step into the ring? It doesn’t make sense. I’m the one risking my life in there, not you. You should be paying me to carry your belt, to be honest,” The Bud said in an Instagram live stream.
Read the full article here
