“That sounds like he’s a hater. That sounds like some hating s***,” Shakur Stevenson commented to the Breakfast Club 105.1 concerning Teofimo Lopez’s assertion that Crawford failed to achieve undisputed status at 168 pounds due to his refusal to pay the sanctioning fee for the belt he acquired from Canelo.
Lopez maintains that for a fighter to genuinely hold a title, the sanctioning fee must be paid immediately upon winning the championship. He argues that if a portion of the winnings is withheld, the belt is not truly owned, effectively nullifying the accomplishment. This point is valid.
Recognition Versus Formalities
If an item is not legitimately possessed, one cannot claim it as theirs. The WBC title was essentially a temporary possession for Crawford, and he decided not to pay for it. Therefore, it was never truly his. Teofimo’s argument holds up.
Crawford intensified the situation after the WBC stripped him of the title. He criticized their decision, suggesting an expectation that he could retain it without payment. This was a peculiar stance. Naturally, non-payment results in forfeiture. He chose not to pay, so they reclaimed their property. Crawford later declared, “The genuine championship is the Ring belt, which is complimentary.”
Terence’s indignation at being divested of his WBC title and subsequently losing his undisputed standing suggests that the championship holds considerable importance for him.
“It did happen to you, and it’s f**** up. It’s not a good situation,” Shakur remarked about Teofimo not being declared undisputed at lightweight after he defeated the unified three-belt champion Vasily Lomachenko in 2020.
“It’s Bud. Give him his credit. We know he was undisputed. There ain’t nothing to talk about,” Shakur said about Crawford.
Stevenson’s Bias
One cannot simply “grant” credit to Crawford indiscriminately just because “it’s Bud.” He neglected to pay the sanctioning fee for the WBC belt, and he should have informed them beforehand of his lack of intention to pay prior to the Canelo fight. He failed to do so.
Shakur’s friendship with Crawford, who also acts as his mentor, inherently makes him prejudiced. Consequently, he is not the appropriate individual to consult on this matter.
