The title became available after Terence Crawford’s retirement from the division. The fight was formally ordered on December 20, more than two weeks after the WBC issued its own order for Sheeraz to face interim champion Christian Mbilli. Although both routes technically remain active, the WBO option has emerged as the preferred path for Sheeraz’s team.
That preference indicates a slight shift. Earlier this year, Sheeraz’s management publicly described Mbilli as the obvious choice. Since then, momentum has tilted toward Pacheco, in part due to promotional alignment and long-term commercial considerations.
Sheeraz fought Carlos Adames to a twelve-round draw in February 2025, a fight that appeared to be his last appearance at 160 pounds. He moved up to super middleweight soon after and made an immediate impact, stopping Edgar Berlanga in five rounds in New York last July. It was his first fight at 168 pounds and his most convincing performance to date.
Pacheco, meanwhile, completed a steady but uneven 2025 campaign. He opened the year with a disciplined twelve-round decision over Steven Nelson in Las Vegas. A low energy points victory over Trevor McCumby followed in July. He finished the year with a decision victory over Kevin Lele Sadjo in December, although he was dropped during the fight before recovering to secure the result.
The Sheeraz Pacheco match was previously floated for a Riyadh season card. Sheeraz has fought exclusively under that banner in recent outings and remains close to his decision makers. Scheduling issues elsewhere on the calendar have complicated those plans, but interest remains.
If no agreement is reached by the new deadline, the fight will proceed to a purse open to all registered WBO promoters. A minimum bid of $300,000 is required. The prize purse will be split equally, or adjusted to a sixty-forty split in favor of the visiting fighter if staged abroad.
At this point, the extension reads less like a delay and more like a silent signal of what route Sheeraz intends to take.
