In a significant turn of events that has stirred discussions across the boxing community, Shakur Stevenson has been stripped of his WBC lightweight title. This decision was officially announced by the World Boxing Council (WBC) on Wednesday via their website and various social media platforms. The governing body referenced a specific rule that prohibits champions from holding titles from different organizations in weight classes that do not align with the divisions where they possess WBC championships.
Stevenson, who boasts an impressive record of 25 wins and 11 knockouts, recently claimed both The Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles after defeating Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in New York. This victory marked a remarkable achievement for Stevenson as he became a champion in four different weight categories throughout his career.
Following this victory, the 28-year-old boxer from Newark, New Jersey expressed his willingness to defend his newly acquired Ring and WBO titles at 140 pounds or potentially drop back down to the 135-pound division for the right matchup. However, at the time of this announcement, it was unclear why Stevenson was not given more time to decide on his next weight class.
In later comments made on X, Stevenson indicated that his stripping from the WBC title stemmed from his refusal to pay a $100,000 fee associated with his bout against Lopez. He noted that since there was no WBC belt on the line during that fight, he found it unreasonable to pay such a hefty sum. "100k to some crooks who don’t deserve it? Nah Leilani [his daughter] I rather gave it to u baby girl. The WBC didn’t even have s*** to do with this fight and it’s eating them alive take your belt it don’t make me," Stevenson tweeted, clearly expressing his frustration.
He also referenced the ongoing conflict between the WBC and Terence Crawford, who is not only a close friend but also a mentor to Stevenson. Crawford had previously criticized WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman for demanding a staggering $300,000 sanctioning fee following his unanimous decision win over Canelo Alvarez. Crawford's refusal to meet this demand was partly due to the fact that other governing bodies charged significantly less for similar sanctioning fees.
Stevenson continued by questioning the rationale behind the WBC's demands, stating, "And I just paid these dudes after my last fight. What the hell I’m giving y’all 100k right now for? Because y’all got beef with Bud so come at me for it."
Despite this setback with the WBC, Stevenson showcased his exceptional skills against Lopez, who is regarded as one of the most talented fighters in his eight-year professional journey. Throughout the match, Stevenson employed his jab effectively, managed both the distance and pace, and maintained complete control over the bout, ultimately winning with all judges scoring the fight 119-109 in his favor.
Stevenson originally captured the WBC lightweight title in November 2023, demonstrating resilience by overcoming hand and shoulder injuries to secure a unanimous decision victory against Edwin De Los Santos. Following that fight, critics scrutinized Stevenson's cautious fighting style, but he silenced many doubters in his title defenses, most recently defeating William Zepeda with an assertive performance that saw him engaging vigorously in exchanges.
Currently, Cuba’s Jadier Herrera holds the interim WBC lightweight championship; however, he was not elevated to full champion status upon Stevenson's removal. Meanwhile, Zepeda remains the WBC’s top contender despite having been defeated by Stevenson just six months prior.
This situation raises questions about the role of sanctioning bodies in the sport and whether their demands could be viewed as overreaching. What are your thoughts on the WBC's decision? Do you agree with Stevenson's stance on the sanctioning fees? Let's discuss!
