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’ll undoubtedly make an offer that Pacheco can’t refuse.
It’s 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, 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 tonight against Sadjo, dropped in round eight, staggered in the tenth, and was forced to hold throughout the 12-round fight.
It would look better on Sheeraz’s part to fight Mbilli because it would show courage. Turki would be the one to decide, since he’s the one who assembles the Riyadh Season cards.
Diego was clinging to survive in every round of the fight against Sadjo. It was very dull to watch, and the crowd’s booing told the story.
Timing Questions
It would be hard for Pacheco to return to the ring to fight Sheeraz in February 2026. That would put him at a disadvantage because he’s coming off a tough fight tonight. Even if it were easy, jumping straight back into training camp would be difficult. If the money if 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. He appeared to lose that fight, but the judges gave him the benefit of the doubt.
