Candidate for the WBC super-middleweight belt vacated by Terence Crawford, Christian Mbilli was due to face Hamzah Sheeraz. However, the Briton could give up to run for the WBO belt in the category.
It’s a chance that Christian Mbilli was eagerly waiting for. Before retiring last week, Terence Crawford saw the WBC strip him of his world championship belt due to unpaid taxes. Faced with this situation and to award the title again, the federation took the decision to order a fight between Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz, leaving it to the various promoters to organize the event. To this end, the Canadian Camille Estephan and the British Frank Warren reached an agreement so that the French and the British can do battle on February 14 during a meeting organized in Riyadh.
However, the retirement of Terence Crawford turns everything upside down because the American also held the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. Three belts which thus become vacant with the different federations which are taking steps to ensure that this situation lasts as short as possible. And it is the latter which poses a problem with regard to the organization of the fight between Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz. Indeed, to fill the power vacuum among the super-middleweights, the WBO ordered a fight between Diego Pacheco and… this same Hamzah Sheeraz. The Briton thus has the choice between two opponents with very different profiles. On the one hand, there is an American fighter who remains in a far from convincing victory against Kévin Lele Sadjo.
Mbilli finally against Martinez?
On the other, there is a French boxer whose last performance against Lester Martinez left a lasting impression even if they separated in a draw. Questioned by the daily
The Teama close friend of Frank Warren assures that “
both options are possible ” regarding the name of Hamzah Sheeraz’s next opponent while adding that ”
the Pacheco option is probably more interesting » for the Briton. The choice of the native of Slough will therefore have serious implications for Christian Mbilli, who could change opponents almost at the last moment with
the name of… Lester Martinez who is already coming back to take the place potentially vacated to face the Habs.
