The Mexico City-based sanctioning organization announced through its website and social media channels Wednesday that it stripped Stevenson of its lightweight title. In its statement, the WBC cited its rule that prohibits champions from simultaneously holding world titles from other governing bodies in weight classes separate from divisions in which they hold WBC belts.

Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) won The Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles from Teofimo Lopez on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Stevenson’s superb performance made him a four-weight world champion.

The former featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight champ from Newark, New Jersey stated thereafter that he was open to defending his Ring and WBO belts in the 140-pound division or returning to the 135 pounds for the right fight. It wasn’t clear at the time this story was posted why Stevenson wasn’t afforded more time to decide the weight at which he’ll fight next.

Stevenson indicated in subsequent statements on X, though, that he was stripped because he wouldn’t pay the WBC a $100,000 fee related to his fight with Lopez. There wasn’t a WBC belt at stake Saturday night, thus there would’ve been no justification for Stevenson paying a six-figure fee to the WBC to oppose Lopez.

“100k to some crooks who don’t deserve it?,” Stevenson wrote. “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 also alluded to the WBC’s well-publicized spat with Terence Crawford, Stevenson’s close friend and mentor. Crawford eviscerated WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman for demanding a $300,000 sanctioning fee for his 12-round, unanimous points victory over Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The since-retired five-division champion refused to pay the abovementioned sum, in part because it was more money than the IBF, WBA or WBO charged for sanctioning their undisputed super middleweight championship clash.

“And I just paid these dudes after my last fight,” Stevenson added. “What the hell I’m giving y’all 100k right now for? Because yall got beef with Bud so come at me for it.”

Regardless, Stevenson impressively established himself in a new division by dominating Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) – the most accomplished, talented opponent of his eight-year pro career. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist picked apart Lopez largely with his jab, dictated distance and pace and completely controlled the action in “The Ring 6” main event. Judges Max De Luca, Eric Marlinski and Steve Weisfeld each scored 11 rounds for Stevenson, who won 119-109 on all three scorecards.

Stevenson, 28, won the WBC lightweight title in November 2023, when he fought through hand and shoulder injuries and fended off strong Dominican southpaw Edwin De Los Santos. Critics condemned Stevenson for his cautious approach that night, but he defeated De Los Santos by unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (116-112, 116-112, 115-113).

Stevenson defended the WBC lightweight title three times, most recently July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. Intent to silence skeptics who criticized him for not taking risks, Stevenson stood toe to toe with William Zepeda at times and handily beat the aggressive Mexican southpaw on “The Ring III” undercard (119-109, 118-110, 118-110).

Cuba’s Jadier Herrera (18-0, 16 KOs) is the WBC’s interim lightweight champion, but he wasn’t elevated Wednesday once Stevenson was stripped. Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) remains the WBC’s No. 1 lightweight contender, despite that Stevenson thoroughly beat him in his last fight six months ago.

Keith Idec is a senior writer and columnist for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing.