Hamzah Sheeraz has been added to the Ring’s top -10 super -mid -weight ranking after his knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga last Saturday night in Queens, New York. The unbeaten Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 COs) were placed on the #7-place in the updated 168 pound ring.
The ease with which Sheeraz struck the hard Berlanga in five rounds at Louis Armstrong Stadium was an eye-opener for fans. It showed two things:
- Canelo Alvarez may not be the top dog at 168. He was forced to go the full distance of 12 round against Berlanga last year.
- Sheeraz’s hand speed, power and technical skills are light years before most fighters at Super Middle Wight.
Hamzah, 26, still has to do more to show that he is really, as Berlanga’s beat is not nearly enough for fans to know if he is the right article. Turki Alalshikh recently said he wants Sheeraz to fight against Canelo in 2026.
Assuming that the fight is taking place next year, it will give Hamzah a chance to take Alvarez’s place as the king of the 168-pound division. You may argue that alvarez has artificial Himself held itself over the last few years on the section with its calculated choice of opposition. Canelo probably would have lost his place a long time ago if he fought David Banavidez and David Morrell before moving up to 175.
Updated Ring Magazine 168-Pond Rankings
Champion: Canelo Alvarez
- Christian Milli
- Diego Pacheco
- Osleys Iglesias
- Armando Resendiz
- Jaime mungiaa
- Caleb plant
- Hamzah sheeraz
- William Scull
- Vladimir Shishkin
- Bekemir melikuziev
Osley Iglesias (13-0, 12 COs) must be moved to the #2 place before Diego Pacheco, because he is a much better talent. The former Cuban amateur talent has a true one -time force and will be deadly to everyone in the division.
The list needs some deductions. Move Jaime Munguia and Caleb completely from the list. Munguia’s recent positive test for exogenous testosterone metabolites after his victory over Bruno Surace on May 3 makes him unworthy to be in the Ring Magazine Top 10.
Former IBF 168-Pond Champion Caleb Plant’s 12-round decision loss to Armando Resendiz on May 31 was his second defeat in his last three fights. With a 1-2 record, ‘Sweethands’ plant does not have the credentials to make it on the prestigious Top 10 club of the ring Magazine.
Add Bruno Surace to the Top -10 list, because its loss of Munguia needs an asterisk due to Jaime’s failed drug test after the fight. The commission that oversees the Mungiaa lawnfight has not yet made a decision to change the outcome to a no-Contest. However, Surace still belongs on the top -10 super -mid -weight list of the ring, given Munguia’s positive test.
Last updated on 07/16/2025
