Crawford didn't take the decision quietly; he publicly poked fun at it, shutting down any hope for a discreet resolution. His actions prompted a strong counter from the WBC who felt they needed to show they meant business.
Mauricio Sulaimán, the president of the WBC, spoke about Crawford's situation while attending a boxing event in San Antonio recently. He graciously acknowledged Crawford’s achievements in boxing.
"May he have much success. He's a great fighter; he's been world champion of the four organizations for 12 years now," Sulaimán stated.
He remained diplomatic on what comes next for Crawford.
"Whatever the decision he takes, that's his choice," Sulaimán noted.
But he made it clear that if Crawford expected help from their end anytime soon, he'd be disappointed.
"He's not going to find in the World Boxing Council a rival to fight. Definitely no," added Sulaimán.
This standoff has become deeply personal for both sides. Crawford's contempt for sanctioning fees and his open comments put WBC on defensive footing, refusing to back down an inch.
The path ahead seems tricky for Terence Crawford as this fallout with a major organization like WBC limits his chances of acquiring championship fights and titles. Although other avenues remain open, they’re significantly trimmed down—a daunting position for someone known as a title collector.