WBC Boss Sulaiman Blasts IBF: "As a Fan, I'm Sick" Over Crawford Belt Stripping
Mauricio Sulaiman, the head of the World Boxing Council (WBC), isn't holding back his anger after the International Boxing Federation (IBF) stripped Terence Crawford of his 147-pound belt. Crawford, the undisputed welterweight champion, had unified all four major titles in the division earlier this year with a stunning knockout victory over Errol Spence Jr. However, the IBF threw a curveball last month, taking away his belt and awarding it to interim champion Jaron Ennis. The reason? Crawford couldn't comply with the IBF's mandatory fight rules. He's contractually obligated to give Spence a rematch, but the IBF wouldn't grant him an optional defense in the meantime. Sulaiman, a passionate advocate for fighters, is furious. He took to The DAZN Boxing Show to express his disgust, saying: "As a fan, I'm sick. The WBC has been trying to get Spence versus Crawford for three or four years. So we kept no mandatories in line that would hurt the process. Then we have an interim champion so the activity will continue. How can you go against Crawford? How can you go against the winner of [the heavyweight undisputed fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk]?" He went on to defend the importance of contractually mandated rematches, citing the recent stripping of Jermell Charlo's WBO title as another example of the IBF prioritizing their rules over the fighters themselves. Sulaiman also offered a solution: the WBC's "Franchise Champion" designation. This special status allows top fighters like Crawford to pursue big fights without jeopardizing their championship status. "Absolutely nothing," Sulaiman said when asked how it helps to strip a fighter like Crawford of his title. "How can you have the best fighter Terence Crawford not be recognized?" "The 'franchise' designation is exactly that, recognizing the value of a fighter that exceeds the normal," he continued. "Canelo does that. Crawford does that. And [Juan Francisco] Estrada did. And [Vasiliy] Lomachenko had it. Franchise … provides a fighter a status that he can go after the big fights without having a consequence on his accolades as a champion." Sulaiman's fiery words have sparked a debate within the boxing world. Will other leaders join him in calling out the IBF's decision? Will the IBF reconsider its stance? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Mauricio Sulaiman is standing up for what he believes in, and he's not afraid to make his voice heard. #MauricioSulaiman #WBC #IBF #TerrenceCrawford #boxing #boxingnews #Crawford
