By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post
The World Boxing Council has stripped Terence “Bud” Crawford of its super-middleweight world title, ending his reign less than three months after his landmark victory over Canelo Álvarez. The WBC announced its decision on December 3, stating that Crawford failed to pay required sanctioning fees for his last two fights, including the September bout that crowned him undisputed at 168 pounds.
Crawford captured the title on September 30, 2025, when he defeated Álvarez in one of the year’s most anticipated matchups. The win made him the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three divisions. His return to Omaha drew thousands to a celebratory parade and homecoming event, but the night took a turn in the early morning hours. Around 1:30 a.m., Omaha police stopped Crawford for alleged reckless driving. Officers reported seeing a firearm on the floorboard and ordered Crawford and his passengers out of the vehicle at gunpoint before briefly detaining them. All occupants were legally permitted to carry firearms, including a member of Crawford’s security team, and Crawford was ultimately cited only for reckless driving. Even so, the stop attracted national attention and shifted the conversation surrounding Crawford from a career-defining victory to unexpected controversy.
In the weeks that followed, the WBC says it reached out repeatedly to Crawford, his manager, and his legal team regarding the reduced sanctioning fee he owed from the Álvarez fight. According to ESPN, the organization lowered the fee to roughly $300,000—down from its usual three percent—due to the size of Crawford’s purse, but officials say they never received a response or payment. WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán called the silence “a slap in the face,” emphasizing the body’s role in approving and sanctioning the fight that delivered Crawford another historic milestone. With no communication from the fighter’s camp, the WBC declared the title vacant.
The decision ends Crawford’s brief tenure as the WBC’s super-middleweight champion, breaking the undisputed status he achieved in September. He retains his other belts, but the loss of the WBC strap marks a significant setback and adds another layer to what has become a turbulent period following what should have been a celebratory high point in his career.
The WBC has already ordered a fight between interim champion Christian Mbilli and contender Hamzah Sheeraz to determine the new titleholder. The outcome of that matchup will reshape the top of the division, while Crawford’s next move remains uncertain. He has not commented publicly on the stripping of the title or the fee dispute, leaving open questions about whether he will attempt to regain the belt, move forward in another division, or pursue other high-profile opportunities.
For now, Crawford’s remarkable run at 168 pounds, highlighted by a historic victory over Canelo Álvarez, has been overtaken by administrative disputes, legal attention, and organizational fallout—an abrupt and complicated turn for one of boxing’s most accomplished champions.
History of Title Revocations and Vacancies
Terence “Bud” Crawford has faced multiple instances where boxing’s governing bodies have stripped or vacated his titles, highlighting the sometimes complicated intersection of in-ring performance, contractual obligations, and sanctioning rules. In November 2023, Crawford was stripped of the IBF welterweight title after a contractual rematch with Errol Spence Jr. conflicted with the IBF’s mandatory defense requirement against Jaron Ennis. The IBF does not recognize rematch clauses as an exception to compulsory defenses, leaving Crawford without the belt despite his previous victory.