Undefeated middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz will get a world title shot against one of the three champions in the 160-lb division in Riyadh on February 22.
Queensberry promoter Frank Warren believes tell Michael Benson that Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) will fight for a world title on “the same card as Daniel Dubois’ return.” However, there is no word on which of the champions the 25-year-old Sheeraz will fight. He is the #1 WBC and #1 WBO.
If Queensberry wanted to show what Sheeraz is made of, they’d beat him against IBF/WBO champion Janibek Alimhanuly, but that’s impossible to believe. The way Shereaz looked, he would lose badly to Janibek and never beat him no matter how many years passed.
Sheeraz is likely to challenge WBC champion Carlos Adames rather than IBF and WBO champion Janibek because the latter is too talented. Sheeraz is a good fighter, but he is not on Janibek’s level, and he will not fare well facing the undefeated Kazakhstani fighter.
It would be too much of a step up in class for Sheeraz to challenge a fighter like Janibek. Sheeraz is a decent scrapper when matched carefully, but he doesn’t have the kind of talent that would allow him to swim with a shark like Janibek.
The stork-like 6’3″ Sheeraz has largely fought the likes of Tyler Denny, Liam Williams and Bradley Skeete at the local level during his seven-year professional career. Throwing Sheeraz in with Janibek would see him crushed like the Kazakh’s last opponent, Andrei Mikhailovich.
Hamzah was defeated early by Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams in their fight earlier this year on June 1 and was lucky the American didn’t go all the way after putting him on skates. If it had been Janibek or Erislandy Lara, it would have been all over for Sheeraz.
If it is Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) who challenges Sheeraz on February 22nd, he has a good chance to win as this is a flawed champion who has looked unimpressive in fights against Terrell Gausha, Serhiy Derevyanchenko and Patrick Teixeira does not. Adames lost to Teixeira via a 12-round unanimous decision on November 30, 2019.
Last updated on 11/04/2024
