Hamzah Sheeraz says he has stopped pleasing boxing fans after criticism over his vacant WBO super middleweight title against late replacement Alem Begic last Saturday night in Giza, Egypt.
Unbeaten Sheeraz stopped 39-year-old Begic in two rounds to capture the vacant WBO 168lb belt after his original plans fell apart in the final days before the event. Some fans criticized the bout afterwards, but Sheeraz says he no longer worries about outside validation and is focused on collecting more titles at super middleweight.
“A few fights ago I would say yes because I lived more to please others and seek validation from boxing fans,” Hamzah told Ring Magazine. “But in all honesty, in the most respectful way possible, I couldn’t give *** up now. It’s just about still chasing the dream. I’ve won a world title now, but I want more. I’m not satisfied. I want unification fights.”
Pointing to the reaction he received before his earlier fight against Edgar Berlanga, Sheeraz said fans criticized that bout as too dangerous, only to later complain that Begic wasn’t a tough enough opponent.
“When I fought Berlanga, it was, ‘You shouldn’t take this fight. It’s too hard. It’s too risky.’ Took it and won it. Then this one was too easy. Do you see what I mean?” said Sheeraz. “I’m just doing me, man. Chasing my dreams, chasing my goals, and doing it for me and my team.”
The 27-year-old already has his eyes on bigger fights at 168. Sheeraz called out Canelo Alvarez after the fight and said he believes he can eventually become the undisputed champion in the division.
“I truly believe I can go unchallenged at 168,” Sheeraz said. “All the champions are great champions, so any of them, man. We’re here now. We’re at that level, and now it’s about getting the biggest fights and getting as many of the titles as I can.”
To fully unify the division, Sheeraz will probably need fights against IBF champion Osleys Iglesias, WBA title holder Jaime Munguia and the winner of the planned September fight between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli for the WBC belt.
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Last updated on 2026/05/26 at 14:45
