Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Diego Pacheco - WBO ordered 2026

[skanksta]

If he turns down a world title fight and fights someone else not for a world title it is a duck. Never been a fan of fighters looking for the easiest possible route for a title. I remember when Luke Campbell was mandatory for Mikey Garcia and he just sat it out, didnt push for it and waited for him to vacate. I was very happy with when Loma got made mandatory, Hearn was fuming about that one that Campbell had to fight hin for vacate belt. Basically if you get a shot at a world title you should take it.

I get your general sentiment Rio, but I don't think it's really clear cut here ?
Can't blame them for taking an (on paper) easier fight for more money and it looks like it'll be a for a title anyways..

The question is more, why do you think Mbili is 'clear favourite to beat Sheeraz' and assume Pacheco has no chance ??
Again, I'm not saying you're wrrong (I agree Pacheco probably easier), but I just don't see it a huge difference between the 3 of them ?
They'd all be good fights and even the weakest (Pacheco we think) could win 'em all..?

Seen alot of both Sheeraz and Mbili. Based on that I make Mbili a clear favourite where as vs Pacheco I make it a 50/50 fight. When this fight came up I had massive doubts they would take it and would try to navigate another route to avoid Mbili. Looks like that scenario is playing out.

What have you seen that makes you think Sheeraz is a bit over-rated ? and Mbili under ?

I'm guessing a Boxrec poll would have Sheeraz (just)beating Mbili and a decent favourite vs Diego..
Ruthless ?

[rio]

I watched Sheeraz comfortably dealt with when he stepped up a level vs Adames. People blamed the weight but there was no mention of weight issues leading up to the fight. Not saying hes over rated I just dont rate him as high as Mbili. I think his team semi agrees and see it as a very tough fight which is why they wont take the fight. Maybe time will tell but I doubt Sheeraz ever steps in a ring vs Mbili

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hamzah Sheeraz-Diego Pacheco WBO-ordered title fight heads to purse bid

An attractive matchup between Hamzah Sheeraz and Diego Pacheco is the preferred fight among all parties involved, including its intended financier.

However, a deal was not reached in time and is now headed to a purse bid hearing, WBO officials confirmed on Monday. The 20-day deadline assigned to the ordered vacant 168lbs title fight has expired without the two sides being able to come to an agreement.

“As the parties have been unable to reach an agreement within the allotted time, the (WBO) will proceed with purse bid proceedings, in accordance with its regulations,” WBO president Gustavo Olivieri informed the media. “Official date, time & venue to be announced.”

The fight was initially ordered on December 20. Queensberry Promotions and Matchroom Boxing were notified on behalf of Sheeraz and Pacheco, respectively. Both are the two highest rated WBO contenders with former four-division champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez still recovering from surgery and unavailable until at least May.

The order came as Sheeraz, 22-0-1 (18 KOs), was similarly instructed to enter talks with WBC interim titlist Christian Mbilli, 29-0-1 (24 KOs), for its vacant full title.

The undefeated 26-year-old British-Pakistani contender is also highly rated with the IBF and next in line to be offered a shot at its available title.

Simply put, Sheeraz is in high demand and his team is clearly weighing all options before deciding their next move.

That said, the matchup was once teased to head to a Riyadh Season card, as Sheeraz is a favorite of Turki Alalshikh, the most influential figure (by far) in the sport today. Matchroom Boxing has also become the promoter du jour for its recent events and has – along with Queensberry – maintained an excellent relationship with the group.

None of that seemed to work favorably in terms of finalizing this fight.

While Sheeraz is ranked in the top 5 among all four major sanctioning bodies, Pacheco’s insistence on going the WBO route has dropped him outside that purview with the other groups. The unbeaten 24-year-old from South Central Los Angeles was previously in position to challenge for the WBC and IBF belts given his lofty rating. His team, however, favored the WBO where he was already in position for an opportunity such as this.

Pacheco had an odd 2025 campaign, where he went 3-0 but failed to further enhance his place among the division’s best as he went the distance on all three occasions.

The year began with a hard-fought, unanimous decision win over unbeaten Steven Nelson last January. Pacheco dug deep to pull away in the later rounds, though the win subsequently lost its luster when Nelson was knocked out in the first round just one fight later.

Lackluster performances in wins over Trevor McCumby and unbeaten Kevin Lele Sadjo were heavily criticized by fans and media alike. Still, Pacheco remains among the best super middleweights in the world.

Absent a last-minute agreement being secured, the boxers will await further instructions from the WBO. All promoters currently registered with the sanctioning body are eligible to participate in the purse bid hearing, with a minimum $300,000 bid required to validate the session.

[TheLeprechaun]

I watched Sheeraz comfortably dealt with when he stepped up a level vs Adames. People blamed the weight but there was no mention of weight issues leading up to the fight. Not saying hes over rated I just dont rate him as high as Mbili. I think his team semi agrees and see it as a very tough fight which is why they wont take the fight. Maybe time will tell but I doubt Sheeraz ever steps in a ring vs Mbili

Adames is a unique kind of style. Explosive puncher with a reflex based game based on physical attributes like speed. Sheraz will always have trouble with that type. I think Sheraz should beat Pacheco.

[MPW]

I watched Sheeraz comfortably dealt with when he stepped up a level vs Adames. People blamed the weight but there was no mention of weight issues leading up to the fight. Not saying hes over rated I just dont rate him as high as Mbili. I think his team semi agrees and see it as a very tough fight which is why they wont take the fight. Maybe time will tell but I doubt Sheeraz ever steps in a ring vs Mbili

Adames is a unique kind of style. Explosive puncher with a reflex based game based on physical attributes like speed. Sheraz will always have trouble with that type. I think Sheraz should beat Pacheco.

Yeah, Adames' style poses all kinds of different problems for a lot of fighters, including Sheeraz, and the Dominican has learned his craft well since the loss to Teixeira six years ago.

I think Sheeraz beats Pacheco by a comfortable margin, maybe even a late stoppage, but has his hands full with Mbilli in a tough 50-50 fight.

[Taansend]

I watched Sheeraz comfortably dealt with when he stepped up a level vs Adames. People blamed the weight but there was no mention of weight issues leading up to the fight. Not saying hes over rated I just dont rate him as high as Mbili. I think his team semi agrees and see it as a very tough fight which is why they wont take the fight. Maybe time will tell but I doubt Sheeraz ever steps in a ring vs Mbili

Why would you tell the opposition camp that you're struggling at the weight

[Ruthless-RKO]

Official: Hamzah Sheeraz belt of choice is WBO

With three super middleweight belts to choose from, England’s Hamzah Sheeraz intends to fight unbeaten Diego Pacheco for the WBO strap left vacant by the retirement of Terence Crawford.

An individual close to the situation told BS Tuesday that a January 19 purse bid for the fight will bring further clarity to the matter.

Sheeraz manager Spencer Brown told IFL TV that Sheeraz was also entertaining his option to fight Canada’s unbeaten WBC interim super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli.

“I think the Mbilli fight is the obvious option for Hamzah Sheeraz,” Brown said.

Yet, Sheeraz promoter allegedly of Queensberry Promotions has provided assurance the WBO belt is Sheeraz’s belt of choice.

Sheeraz 22-0-1 (18KOs) is the WBO No. 3 contender, right behind former undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs) and South Central Los Angeles’ Pacheco 25-0 (18KOs).

Alvarez is unavailable to challenge for any of his old belts, as he continues to recover from surgery performed in October. That left Pacheco and Sheeraz as the WBO’s two highest rated available challengers to compete for its vacant super middleweight title.

Sheeraz is coming off a July fifth-round knockout of Alvarez’s 2024 title challenger Edgar Berlanga in Queens, New York.

Pacheco, 24, performed in three lackluster points victories last year versus Steven Nelson, Trevor McCumby and Kevin Lele Sadjo. He was knocked down in the latter bout in December before recovering to win a unanimous decision.

Sheeraz was also positioned by the IBF for a title shot versus top-ranked Osleys Iglesias of Cuba. However, he declined to move forward with the offered invitation to enter negotiations given his already overbooked commitments with the abovementioned sanctioning bodies.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Taansend]

Sheeraz needs to be careful here & not go in gunning for a knockout. He's not facing another Berlanga,

Pacheco can box. He's a little taller than Sheeraz, has a longer reach & has been at the weight his whole career. Hamzah doesn't need to be chasing him around & get picked off then caught coming in.

[Evander]

Sheeraz needs to be careful here & not go in gunning for a knockout. He's not facing another Berlanga,

Pacheco can box. He's a little taller than Sheeraz, has a longer reach & has been at the weight his whole career. Hamzah doesn't need to be chasing him around & get picked off then caught coming in.

What about the Adames fight ?
Looked to me like they jibbed Carlos.

[MPW]

Sheeraz needs to be careful here & not go in gunning for a knockout. He's not facing another Berlanga,

Pacheco can box. He's a little taller than Sheeraz, has a longer reach & has been at the weight his whole career. Hamzah doesn't need to be chasing him around & get picked off then caught coming in.

What about the Adames fight ?
Looked to me like they jibbed Carlos.

I think Sheeraz was fortunate to get the draw against Adames, a tough and awkward pressure fighter who makes opponents look bad. Adames will be fighting Ammo Williams, whom Sheeraz stopped late in June of 2024, in defense of his WBC middleweight title on January 31.

[jameswilson]

I’ve said in other threads that I’ve felt like these two have been on a collision course for a while. Sheeraz for me was always eventually going to be at 168 and Pacheco I’ve always felt isn’t stopping until he is in a World title fight.

I’ve no idea how this fight goes and really hope it happens.

[Taansend]

Sheeraz needs to be careful here & not go in gunning for a knockout. He's not facing another Berlanga,

Pacheco can box. He's a little taller than Sheeraz, has a longer reach & has been at the weight his whole career. Hamzah doesn't need to be chasing him around & get picked off then caught coming in.

What about the Adames fight ?
Looked to me like they jibbed Carlos.

Is that relevant to what I wrote?

Not having a dig. I just don't see the connection.

[Evander]

Sheeraz needs to be careful here & not go in gunning for a knockout. He's not facing another Berlanga,

Pacheco can box. He's a little taller than Sheeraz, has a longer reach & has been at the weight his whole career. Hamzah doesn't need to be chasing him around & get picked off then caught coming in.

What about the Adames fight ?
Looked to me like they jibbed Carlos.

Is that relevant to what I wrote?

Not having a dig. I just don't see the connection.

No offence taken at all m8.
Guess I'm thinking to myself that Sheeraz is a protected fighter and will get preferential treatment by the judges against some fighters, because it sure looked like Adames beat him.
Don't get me wrong, Hamzah is a very good boxer and he'll probably beat Pacheco, however when I see decisions such as the Adames fight casts a shadow over some of his fights.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hamzah Sheeraz, Diego Pacheco granted extension by WBO; purse bid delayed

Hamzah Sheeraz and Diego Pacheco have been granted additional time to come to terms for their ordered WBO super middleweight title fight.

Sanctioning body officials confirmed on Friday that a purse bid hearing previously scheduled for Monday is now designated to take place on January 30. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri informed BS and other outlets that an extension requested by Matchroom Boxing was not met with any objection by Queensberry Promotions, Sheeraz’s promoter of record.

The additional 11 days can either provide both sides with enough time to finalize the attractive matchup, or allow Sheeraz’s side to further explore a similar offer to challenge for the WBC belt.

England’s Sheeraz, 22-0-1 (18 KOs) is currently in negotiations with Pacheco, 25-0 (18 KOs) for the WBO 168lbs title, as well as with WBC interim titlist Christian Mbilli, 29-0-1 (24 KOs) for the sanctioning body’s vacant full belt.

Sheeraz-Pacheco was initially ordered on December 20, more than two weeks after the WBC already ordered Mbilli-Sheeraz.

This particular matchup appears to be the preferred choice, as it was once teased to land on a

Riyadh Season card. Sheeraz has long ago emerged as a favorite of Turki Alalshikh, far and away the sport’s most influential figure and who has financed Sheeraz’s last four fights.

Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions both maintain an excellent relationship with the group. However, there are a lot of moving parts in its current schedule, particularly with the understandable fallout of a planned March bout involving former two-time heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua.

Sheeraz suffered his first career blemish in 2025, a 12-round draw with WBC 160lbs titlist Carlos Adames last February 22 in Riyadh. The fight turned out to be his last at middleweight. He made a splash in his super middleweight arrival, with a 5th round knockout of Brooklyn’s Edgar Berlanga last July 12 on the road in Queens, New York.

Pacheco went 3-0 in his 2025 campaign, going the distance in each of his three fights. The journey began with a 12-round, unanimous decision over unbeaten Steven Nelson last January 23 in Las Vegas. He then went through the motions in a dull affair versus Trevor McCumby, whom he outpointed on July 19 in Frisco, Texas.

Pacheco capped the year with a hard-fought, decision victory over unbeaten Kevin Lele Sadjo. However, he had to survive a knockdown to prevail in their December 13 DAZN headliner in Stockton, California.

Absent a last-minute agreement being secured, the fight will become eligible to all WBO-registered promoters. A minimum $300,000 purse bid is required to validate the session. The winning amount will be split evenly, 50/50, between the two, or 60/40 in favor of the visiting fighter should the bout land in the other’s home country.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Purse bids cancelled.

WBO will make an announcement soon.

[MPW]

Purse bids cancelled.

WBO will make an announcement soon.

That's good to hear. I'm curious to see how it shakes out.

[Ruthless-RKO]

DIEGO PACHECO PULLS OUT OF WBO TITLE FIGHT AGAINST HAMZAH SHEERAZ

Diego Pacheco is no longer interested in fighting for the WBO title, at least not now.

The WBO’s No. 2 ranked super middleweight was initially ordered to take on Hamzah Sheeraz, the sanctioning body’s No. 3 contender, for the vacant crown. After talks failed to produce results, a purse bid was ordered for January 30.

However, Pacheco, ranked No. 5 by The Ring, has officially pulled out. An exact reasoning hasn’t been made clear but for now, the 24-year-old will go in another direction.

Sheeraz’s next opportunity will have to wait. The WBO is currently mulling its options. Jacob Banks, presently ranked No. 4, is scheduled to fight former IBF champion, William Scull on Saturday night. While he might be the likely choice, that decision depends on the outcome of his upcoming the fight.

The WBO also told The Ring that Alem Begic could also receive the opportunity. While he hasn't beaten against anyone of note, the 38-year-old has wins over undefeated opponents Mahdi Safdari and David Kerkmann in his last two contests.

In the case of Sheeraz, he’s coming off arguably the biggest win of his career. The Ring’s No. 8 168-pounder scored a concussive fifth-round KO over Edgar Berlanga on July 12, 2025, at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, on The Ring III.

Although he desperately wants a title shot, he was offered one against Christian Mbilli for the vacant WBC belt. Once Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) declined, the sanctioning body elevated Mbilli from interim to full champion.

Canelo Alvarez, the former undisputed super middleweight champion, is ranked No. 1 in the WBO and by The Ring. The Mexican star and future Hall of Famer is currently recovering from elbow surgery following his defeat to Terence Crawford in September of 2025.

[rd350lc]

Pacheco the duck.