Terence Crawford left boxing undefeated and with little left to prove, yet Mauricio Sulaimán reopened an old dispute by describing the former champion’s exit as “cowardly” in an interview this week.
“Fight in September for the world title. He has many options: Benavidez, Charlo, a rematch with Crawford, who cowardly retired, Bivol, and Beterbiev. He is in a position where he can choose,” WBC president Sulaiman told Tiempo Extra.
It seems more personal than a professional disagreement over paperwork. Sulaimán’s “cowardly” comment is clearly a retaliatory strike for the bridge Crawford burned on his way out.
When Crawford beat Canelo in September 2025, he effectively stepped down as the “King of the Hill” and then told the neighborhood association (the WBC) that their dues were a scam.
During his Instagram Live rant, Crawford refused to pay and devalued the WBC’s entire existence. Calling the famous green belt a “trophy” that “doesn’t mean s***” is a direct hit to Sulaimán’s legacy and the prestige he is trying to maintain for the WBC.
The WBC claims they discounted their usual fee from 3% to 0.6% ($300,000) to be “fair,” and Crawford still wouldn’t touch it. By paying the other three bodies (WBA, IBF, WBO) but freezing out the WBC, Crawford singled them out as the one organization he deemed unworthy of his money.
Crawford specifically stated that The Ring belt is the “real belt” because it is free. This is a nightmare for sanctioning bodies because it encourages other stars to realize that they don’t actually need the expensive sanctioning body “alphabet” titles to be considered the best.
Calling a 42-0 fighter who just moved up and schooled Canelo a “coward” is objectively absurd in a box sense. In Sulaimán parlance, however, “cowardice” likely refers to Crawford’s refusal to “stand and fight” in the council chamber.
By retiring, Crawford prevented the WBC from receiving the $300,000 he already owed them for the belt. His exit also meant that future sanctioned fees from a massive Crawford vs. Benavidez or Crawford vs. Bivol fight.
It also prevented the WBC from having the opportunity to formally strip him as punishment while he was still active.
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Last updated on 2026/04/23 at 12:28
