London, UK: Hamzah Sheeraz vs Tyler Denny, European EBU Middleweight Title 21 September 2024 Photo by Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing. Hamzah Sheeraz celebrates his victory.
Hamzah Sheeraz was covered in belts. Over the past four years, the tall, striking Brit has sacrificed to earn those ties.
He wanted to make an impact on a stage like Saturday night in London, England, appearing as the co-feature on the Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois IBF heavyweight undercard as part of Riyadh Season: Wembley Edition at Wembley Stadium.
It’s safe to say Sheeraz left an indelible impression.
It took Sheeraz a mere 305 seconds to chew up southpaw Tyler Denny to remain undefeated with a second-round stoppage victory at 2:05 to win the European middleweight title.
Ranked No. 3 at middleweight by The Ring, Sheeraz (21-0, 17 knockouts) felt shunned — and after this destruction, understandably so. Denny (19-3-3, 1 KO) was knocked down in the first and second rounds.
The middleweight division looks wide open. It could be up to Sheeraz to take.
“I’ve always said I’m a very humble man, humble in victory and humble in defeat, humble in life,” Sheeraz said. “I felt great. Just a big thank you to my sponsor and everyone here who supported me today. I always leave it to my team. They knew what they were doing.”
Hamzah Sheeraz made easy work of Tyler Denny (Photo by Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing).
Denny, 33, scored a big win, handing Felix Cash his first pro loss.
Sheeraz never gave him a chance.
Within the first 13 seconds of the fight, he dropped Denny. There was a clear height difference between the 5-foot-10 Denny and the 6-foot-3 Sheeraz.
Moments after the opening bell, Sheeraz backed Denny up with the jab, then came over with a left hook that caught Denny behind his right ear, sending Denny to the canvas. Denny, a natural southpaw, spent the rest of the first round trying to get within Sheeraz’s long range.
In the second, the patient, calculating Sheeraz backed Denny up again. With his high guard, the 25-year-old Sheeraz set up almost the exact same move in the second round when he knocked Denny down again with 1:04 left in the round.
He set up the knockout perfectly, landed some penetrating jabs, a straight right, then came over with a left hook right on Denny’s right ear and down went Denny again.
Referee Mark Bates immediately waved it over.
“I’m really tired of tracking down title fights now,” said Sheeraz. “Anybody on 168 who brings it on, let’s make it happen. It’s about delivery. I can only say thank you to my team.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito (twitter.com)
