The ongoing feud between Terence Crawford and the World Boxing Council (WBC) has escalated into a full-blown political issue – and the fallout may reshape the business of boxing.
What began as a dispute over sanctioning fees has now drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers questioning whether sanctioning bodies still serve the fighters or exploit them.
Crawford was stripped this week of his WBC super-middleweight title – a belt he won after defeating Canelo Alvarez – because the WBC claims he failed to pay required fees.
For that fight, where Crawford reportedly earned around US$50 million, instead of the typical 3 % sanctioning fee, the WBC lowered the rate to 0.6% – about US$300,000. Even so, they allege no payment nor response was ever made.
Crawford responded angrily on social media, denouncing the WBC as corrupt and calling out its president by name.
He accused the organization of hypocrisy – saying the green belt’s prestige is hollow. “What makes you better than the WBO, the IBF or the WBA?” he shouted.
When boxing controversy hits Congress
On December 4, 2025, U.S. Congressman Randy Fine (R-FL) used the case of Crawford as a key example during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Fine argued that the sanctioning-fee debacle underlines broader, systemic problems in boxing – from opaque financial practices to lack of fighter protections. He called Crawford‘s stripping “a pretty big problem.”
The hearing revisited the proposed Muhammad Ali Rival Act, legislation aimed at overhauling professional boxing’s governance. The bill, long stalled, is gaining new momentum as advocates point to the Crawford-WBC saga as proof that current systems are broken – fighters pay massive fees, belts get stripped, and enforcement remains arbitrary.
Critics insist sanctioning bodies like the WBC still hold too much power – controlling belts, fees, and fighter eligibility – while offering little transparency.
Promoters such as Eddie Hearn have publicly condemned Crawford‘s move to walk away from WBC fees, arguing fighters must honor their obligations if they want official belts. Others counter that sanctioning bodies are part of the problem.
With lawmakers now scrutinizing boxing’s fee system and sanctioning-body power, Crawford’s dispute may become more than a personal vendetta – it could trigger lasting reform.
Pressure is mounting for unified regulation, transparency of fee structures, and better protections for fighters who generate the sport’s biggest paydays.
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