Riyadh Season Interest
Ring Magazine reports that Riyadh season is “very interested” in a February match between Pacheco and Hamzah. If Turki Alalshikh is the one who wants this fight for Hamzah Sheeraz, he will undoubtedly make an offer that Pacheco cannot refuse.
This is a strange move by Riyadh Season, as the WBC has already ordered Sheeraz to fight WBC interim super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli for the vacant full title, which was recently stripped from Terence Crawford for his failure to pay the sanctioning fee for the belt.
Pacheco’s tough night
On paper, Mbilli would be a tougher fight for Sheeraz than Pacheco, given his relentless style, high work rate and strong chin. Pacheco looked vulnerable against Sadjo tonight, falling in round eight, reeling in the tenth, and was forced to hold throughout the 12-round fight.
It would look better on Sheeraz’s part to fight against Mbilli as it would show courage. Turki would be the one to decide as he is the one who assembles the Riyadh season cards.
Diego clung to survival in each round of the battle against Sadjo. It was very boring to watch, and the crowd’s boos told the story.
Timing Questions
It will be difficult for Pacheco to return to the ring to fight Sheeraz in February 2026. It will hurt him because he is coming off a tough fight tonight. Even if it was easy, jumping right back into training camp would be tough. If the money is big enough, it’s hard to see Pacheco turning it down.
Sheeraz is coming off a fifth round knockout win over Edgar Berlanga last July in Queens, New York. He looked good in that fight, but he wasn’t facing a solid super middleweight. In Hamzah’s previous fight against Carlos Adames, he fought to a controversial 12 round draw. It looked like he lost that fight, but the judges gave him the benefit of the doubt.
