Shakur Stevenson loses lightweight title, criticizes WBC

The WBC announced on Wednesday that it has removed Shakur Stevenson from his position as lightweight world champion, just days after he outperformed Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO junior welterweight title.

In its statement, the WBC declared the lightweight title “vacant,” referencing the organization’s rules and regulations concerning titleholders and Stevenson’s new status as a WBO champion in a different weight class.

Stevenson ascended to 140 pounds to achieve his significant victory over Lopez on Saturday, marking his status as a four-division champion. He secured the WBC lightweight title in November 2023 with a unanimous decision against Edwin De Los Santos and defended the title successfully on three occasions.

“The WBC wishes Champion Stevenson continued success in all his future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring,” the WBC stated. “The WBC will provide additional information regarding the process to establish a new Lightweight World Champion in the near future.”

Later on Wednesday, Stevenson took to X to criticize the WBC’s ruling, claiming that he was stripped of the title due to a $100,000 fee he did not pay the WBC for the Lopez bout.

“100k to some crooks who don’t deserve it?” Stevenson expressed in his post.

He further stated: “The WBC didn’t even have anything to do with this fight, and it’s eating them alive. Take your belt, it doesn’t affect me.”

Stevenson also referenced the WBC’s decision to strip Terence Crawford of his super middleweight title in early December for not paying mandatory fees to the organization.

“What the hell am I giving y’all 100k right now for?” Stevenson wrote on X. “Because y’all have issues with Bud? So come at me for it.”