With world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announcing his retirement, the WBO has moved quickly to set up a vacant title fight. Over the weekend, Hamzah Sheeraz of Great Britain and Diego Pacheco of the United States were ordered to begin negotiations, with a twenty-day deadline before the purse bid process is started. Sheeraz might be able to opt for the WBC route, with a possible fight against Canada's Christian Mbilli for the WBC version of the 168-pound championship. Sheeraz is 22-0-1 and a former British middleweight champion. In February, he fought to a draw with Carlos Adames in a bid for Adames' WBC middleweight championship, although most thought Adames deserved the win. Sheeraz went on to knock out Edgar Berlanga in July. Pacheco is 25-0 and although he hasn't looked great in his last three fights, he holds victories over many qualified boxers.   

 

PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE

 

DEC. 17, 2025: Undefeated, multi-division champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement today. The future Hall of Famer posted a YouTube video saying, "Every fighter knows this moment will come. You just never know when... I've spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines, but that feeling you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and keep proving them wrong. This sport gave me everything... and I did it all my way. And I've made peace with what's next. Now, its time. Thank you... I'm stepping away from competition. Not because I'm done fighting but because I won a different kind of battle, the oen where you walk away on your own terms. This isn't goodbye, its just the end of one fight and the beginning of another." 

 

SEPT. 14, 2025:  On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Terence Crawford made boxing history, becoming an undefeated five-division champion by defeating Saul "Canelo" Álvarez in a battle of future Hall of Famers. Moving up two weight divisions since his last fight, Crawford won by unanimous decision in front of a roaring crowd at Allegiant Stadium. The official scores were 115-113 (twice) and 116-112. Alvarez did not dispute the outcome. The performance marked not just another win, but the kind of career-defining moment that puts Crawford firmly in the conversation as one of the greatest fighters of his era.