[REVISION HISTORY]

WBO super middleweight title vacancy

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-22 23:32 UTC → 2026-09-26 12:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Hamzah Sheeraz voluntarily relinquished his WBO super middleweight world title following a purse bid won by Queensberry Promotions for a mandatory defense against Janibek Alimkhanuly. ~~WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed that~~ Sheeraz ~~and his team chose not to proceed with the obligation, with Sheeraz~~ previously ~~citing~~ cited concerns regarding Alimkhanuly’s history with a banned ~~substance.~~ substance, specifically a positive test for meldonium in November. Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren expressed deep disappointment regarding the decision, stating there was “no reason; there’s no rationale to that” and suggesting Sheeraz had been poorly advised. Warren noted that his team had worked extensively to position Sheeraz to win the title, and that the surrender of the belt leaves Sheeraz without a major bargaining chip for future high-profile fights. Under the purse split resulting from the $1,001,809 bid, Sheeraz was set to receive approximately $750,000 for the bout. Following the vacancy, the WBO ordered ~~Jacob Bank~~ Janibek Alimkhanuly to fight ~~Alimkhanuly~~ Jacob Bank for the vacant title. President Gustavo Olivieri identified Bank as the first available contender. The two parties have 15 days to reach a contractual agreement, failing which a purse bid will be initiated. ~~Although~~ While Diego Pacheco holds the number two ranking in the division, he is currently scheduled to face Darius Fulghum on November 14, and the WBO has not specified why Bank was selected for the immediate title opportunity over Pacheco.

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