Promoter Eddie Hearn says he doesn’t know where Hamzah Sheeraz can go if he is knocked out by Super Middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga in their main liner on July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.
Sheeraz: British fan Appeal
Hearn mentions that Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 COs) would be back on the British domestic scene if he lost to Berlanga (23-1, 18 COs). Berlanga-Heeraz is two fighters in the Canelo Alvarez Sweepstakes race for 2026.
Hearn says the winner of the fight has a chance to fight against the Mexican superstar next year. Sheeraz had not yet fought against Canelo, and he would be the better choice if he could somehow come with a victory with Edgar with Edgar.
Sheeraz would bring in the British fans, and it would be very interested in a collision against Alvarez. Berlanga already had his chance against Canelo and pitched it by playing it safely and just trying to survive. Our boxing fans do not want to see a re -broadcast between them. Once in a lifetime was enough.
“You come to 168. If you are knocked out at 168, where are you going?” said Eddie Hearn Ring magazine On what Hamzah Sheeraz oppose in his fight against Edgar Berlanga on July 12. “You hope for a world title. You have lost at the world level. You are a kind back to the domestic scene. ‘
Sheeraz’s last fight against Carlos Adames has already shown that he is not world class. He would still be above domestic level in the UK, but not world class. Hamzah’s actions against Adames and Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams showed that he is a level below the top level.
Canelo Alvarez Sweepstakes 2026
“His excellence (Turki Alalshikh) is looking for guys in 2026 for the Canelo matches, and Hamzah Sheeraz is very marketable. It’s a wonderful story. He was a big part of the Riyadh season,” says Hearn. “It was a big moment for Hamzah Sheeraz.” A new coach in Andy Lee, who in my opinion is one of the best trainers in the world. If they get this game plan right, they can beat Edgar Berlanga. But it’s going to be a very dangerous struggle. ‘
It will look bad for one of these two fighters to fight Canelo in 2026. Berlanga lost to him in a one -sided decision in 2024. Even if Hamzah would overcome against Edgar on July 12, he would not earn a fight against Alvarez.
Berlanga is a more prospect than a true contender at this stage of his career. Look at his best wins and judge for yourself:
– Jason Quigley
– Padraig McCrory
-Jonathan Gonzalez Organ: 36
– Roamer Alexis Angulo: 41
– Steve Rolls: 40
– Marcelo Coceres: 34
– Demond Nicholson
Berlanga is more a marketing project than a real fighter. He was created by his promoters and is not really world class. A record of 23-12 as an amateur, and at the beginning of his career matched the top rank at the beginning of his career, and tried to turn him into an East Coast star in the easy way. If Sheeraz beats Berlanga, that means nothing. He must then start fighting against quality contenders if he wants to fight Canelo.
“If Edgar Berlanga really believes in himself and keeps the work, he is dangerous. I think in his head, he thinks he will look good against Hamzah Sheeraz and beat him,” says Hearn.
Sheeraz’s 168 debut challenges
Berlanga is fighting Sheeraz at the right time, while making his debut at 168. Sheeraz’s last performance was horrible against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames last February in Riyadh, and he was lucky enough to have a draw. Most box fans won Adames.
There are better fighters than sheeraz on 168, but who did the election for this event, Berlanga gave a happy interruption. They could have submitted him well, and he would be on his way to another loss.
Last updated on 06/18/2025