WBO orders Hamzah Sheeraz title fight after Terence Crawford's retirement

Following undefeated star Terence Crawford's retirement, the WBO has ordered Hamzah Sheeraz to fight Diego Pacheco for the vacant super-middleweight title.

Crawford announced his retirement from the sport last Tuesday, writing on X, "Walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove."

He reached the peak of his sport before retiring from the ring. In September, he secured the biggest victory of his career by defeating Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super-middleweight world champion.

That victory -- which made Crawford the first boxer in modern history to be an undisputed champion in three divisions (light welterweight, welterweight, super middleweight) -- left the titles at 168 pounds vacant.

Britain's Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) was previously ordered by the WBC to fight Christian Mbill for the vacant super-middleweight title, which was stripped from Crawford before his retirement for allegedly not paying mandatory fees.

The WBO mandate gives Sheeraz a second option to become a world champion. He knocked out Edgar Berlanga in his super-middleweight debut in July.

Pacheco is 25-0 with 18 KOs.

The promoters of Sheeraz (Frank Warren's Queensberry) and Pacheco (Eddie Hearn's Matchroom) have 20 days to agree on the terms of a fight, including the purse split, data and venue. If they cannot reach an agreement, they must proceed to purse bids according to WBO rules.

--Field Level Media