British 6ft 3ins rising star ordered to fight for Terence Crawford’s vacated world title

Hamzah Sheeraz has been ordered to fight Diego Pacheco for the vacant WBO super-middleweight world title.

Terence Crawford won the undisputed super-middleweight world titles with a stunning victory over Canelo Alvarez in September.

He first vacated his WBC belt after a row over sanctioning fees, but had left the door open to a potential sequel with Canelo Alvarez.

But ‘Bud’ then announced he had thrown his last punch in the squared circle, retiring from the sport at the peak of his powers.

In doing so, Crawford informed the governing bodies that he would let go of his remaining belts including the WBO title.

It was confirmed that the WBO would now make an order to fight for the vacant belt in 2026.

And it is exciting British giant Sheeraz who has received the call-up.

He has been ordered to face undefeated 25-0 Pacheco, with notice sent to both Queensberry Promotions and Matchroom Boxing.

The respective parties will now be forced into negotiations for the huge showdown, which will be taken to purse bids with a minimum bid of $300,000 required.

Sheeraz is ranked just one place behind Pacheco at No.3 in the WBO rankings, and will hope to win a world title at the second time of asking.

Sheeraz and Pacheco – the story behind a huge potential showdown

For Sheeraz, he will hope to take a world title at 168lbs having marginally fallen short at middleweight.

The Ilford native drew with Carlos Adames in controversial fashion, but impressed in his victory over Edgar Berlanga in July – his debut fight at 168lbs.

As for Pacheco, he is becoming one of the hottest properties in American boxing.

He had a successful three-fight winning year, but in his most recent outing he was forced to come from the canvas to beat Kevin Lele Sadjo in December.

It will give Sheeraz confidence now that Pacheco’s seeming invincibility aura has been diminished.

Pacheco on the other hand is still brimming with confidence, and is even open to taking the bout on British shores.

He said: “Sheeraz, after looking great and knocking Berlanga out, he got a lotta recognition here in the U.S.

“I think a fight with him would be huge here in the States, in Saudi or even in the UK.

“I think that would be a really big fight.

“And honestly, I see that as one of the best fights in the division right now.

“Sheeraz is the guy I wanna go after now.”