Boxing Bombshell: Terence Crawford Stripped of WBC Super-Middleweight Title, Hamzah Sheeraz Steps Up

The boxing world is reeling from a dramatic announcement: Terence Crawford, widely considered one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite, has been stripped of his WBC super-middleweight world championship. This stunning development, coming after his historic victory over Canelo Alvarez, paves the way for British phenom Hamzah Sheeraz to fight for the vacant title.

Crawford’s Historic Rise and Sudden Fall

Just months ago, Terence “Bud” Crawford captivated the boxing universe with a masterful performance against boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez. In a move that defied conventional wisdom, Crawford, a natural welterweight, jumped three divisions to challenge Canelo at 168 lbs. He didn’t just win; he dominated, claiming all four major titles and cementing his legacy as an undisputed champion in multiple weight classes.

However, the WBC has now confirmed that Crawford has been stripped of their super-middleweight title. The reason? A reported failure to pay sanctioning fees for his recent bouts. The World Boxing Council released a statement detailing their attempts to contact Crawford, his management, and legal counsel regarding “failure to comply with express mandates of the WBC rules and regulations,” specifically the non-payment of boxer’s bout fees for his last two fights against Israil Madrimov and Saul Alvarez.

“The WBC sent multiple communications to champion Crawford, his manager, and his legal counsel. Very unfortunately the WBC did not receive an acknowledgement of receipt nor any response to those communications. The WBC had no choice but to act,” the statement read, underscoring the severity of the non-compliance that led to Terence Crawford being stripped.

Hamzah Sheeraz: Seizing the Moment in the Super-Middleweight Division

With Crawford’s title vacated, the WBC wasted no time in mandating a new championship bout. Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz has been given the golden opportunity to fight Canada’s Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight championship. This is a monumental moment for Sheeraz, who has been on an impressive trajectory in recent years, making a strong case for his world title shot.

Sheeraz’s Path to a World Title Shot

• Middleweight Dominance: Sheeraz built a fearsome reputation at middleweight, known for his devastating knockout power. His rapid victories over notable opponents like Liam Williams and Tyler Denny showcased his immense talent.
• Bouncing Back: After a challenging draw against Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title earlier this year, Sheeraz made the strategic move to super-middleweight.
• Super-Middleweight Statement: He made an immediate impact in his new division, delivering a dominant performance and victory over Edgar Berlanga in July, proving his power translates effectively to 168 lbs.

A spokesperson for Sheeraz’s promoter, Queensberry, expressed excitement about the mandate: “We welcome this news for Hamzah to have the opportunity to become a world champion. Hamzah is in a great position with all of the sanctioning bodies, so we will be sitting down with the team shortly to discuss the best next move for him and his career.”

“Hamzah is already one of the biggest talents in the sport, as he showed last time out when he destroyed Edgar Berlanga after moving up to 168lbs, and when he becomes world champion in 2026 he will become a true global superstar,” they added, highlighting the immense potential of Hamzah Sheeraz.

What This Means for the Boxing Landscape

The stripping of Terence Crawford‘s title creates significant ripples across the boxing landscape. For Crawford, it raises questions about his immediate future in the super-middleweight division and whether he will pursue other belts or return to a lower weight class. For Sheeraz and Mbilli, it’s a career-defining moment, a chance to etch their names into history as world champions.

The super-middleweight division, already stacked with talent, just became even more intriguing. Boxing fans worldwide will be eagerly watching to see who emerges victorious and what Crawford’s next move will be in the wake of this unprecedented decision by the WBC.