Hamzah Sheeraz has reached an unusual point in his career. Two world titles are available to him at the same time, at the same weight, and neither path has been chosen yet.
As of January 7, 2026, Sheeraz is sitting on two separate orders at super middleweight. The WBC has directed him toward a vacant title fight against Christian Mbilli, following the retirement of Terence Crawford. The WBO has also ordered Sheeraz to face Diego Pacheco for its own vacant belt.
Publicly, the 26 year old Sheeraz has not committed to either option. Privately, the industry view is that the WBO route is gaining traction. Riyadh Season is believed to be interested in a Sheeraz fight in the spring, and Pacheco is seen as a cleaner commercial fit for that setting.
The boxing risk, however, is not equal.
Mbilli represents the harder physical test. He is a pressure fighter with a high output and a willingness to work inside. That style remains an open question for Sheeraz after his February draw with Carlos Adames, a fight many observers felt slipped away from him under sustained pressure.
Pacheco, while less relentless, presents a different complication. At 6 foot 4, he removes one of Sheeraz’s long standing advantages. Sheeraz has been able to dictate range against most opponents at 160 and even at 168. That comfort disappears against someone who can match him in height and reach.
What makes this moment notable is not just the choice of opponent, but what the choice signals. One route leans toward risk management. The other leans toward validation. Delaying the decision only sharpens that contrast, and eventually, Sheeraz will have to show which side of it he stands on.
Timing will also play a role. Sanctioning bodies will not allow both orders to sit indefinitely, and pressure from promoters is expected to increase quickly.
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Last Updated on 01/07/2026
