WBO order Hamzah Sheeraz vs Diego Pacheco for vacant super-middleweight world title

Hamzah Sheeraz vs Diego Pacheco world title fight ordered

Following undisputed super-middleweight champion Terence Crawford's retirement last week, the WBO have ordered WBO #2 Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) and WBO #3 Diego Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) to contest the now vacant WBO world super-middleweight title.

While the WBO #1 Canelo is currently recovering from surgery, the next two in the pecking order will fight it out for the world honours, with the injured Mexican potentially being a future contender later in the 2026.

26-years-old, Slough's stylish Sheeraz is currently undefeated in 23 pro bouts, with just one draw on his record. He was held to a stalemate after his WBC world middleweight title challenge in February 2025 to Carlos Adames. Less than five months later, the power puncher moved up to super-middle where he stunned Edgar Berlanga in five rounds in his 168lbs debut.

His last 16 victories have all come via KO. His four points wins all came within his first six contests, seven years ago now. His high KO ratio of 81.82% is made even more impressive by his average of knockouts coming every four rounds.

Mexican-American Diego Pacheco, 24, is the current holder of the WBC Silver and WBO International super-middleweight belts. He originally won his WBO strap against Briton Jack Cullen in Liverpool back in March 2023. He has since defended the strap successfully seven times.

Both boxers are unbeaten with 18 knockouts each and currently in their prime in their mid-20s, so will make for one of the most anticipated fights of 2026.

Britain's unbeaten Sheeraz could not only become a world champion if he wins his next test, but he could also hold a world title that was first won by boxing legend and five-weight world champ Thomas Hearns in 1988.