That mismatch is a problem for a Riyadh Season card that already struggles to generate real fan excitement outside of Oleksandr Usyk’s name value. Hardcore fans can quickly spot a manufactured title lineup, and the reaction surrounding Sheeraz-Begic reflected that skepticism. Instead of feeling like a meaningful championship fight, the bout has the appearance of a sanctioning body formality designed to slide Sheeraz into the title picture with minimal resistance.
This is a complete hoax, and no buzz for this fight or the event. Asking fans $60 for a pay-per-view card that features a world title fight is a tough pill to swallow.
When the WBO title became vacant, the sanctioning body originally ordered Sheeraz to fight Diego Pacheco. This would have been a legitimate, highly anticipated match. But Pacheco pulled out of the negotiations, choosing instead to focus on fitting into his new training and management setup.
Once Pacheco was out of the picture, Sheeraz’s team quickly needed an opponent to secure the vacant belt. Instead of forcing a fight with a dangerous, lively competitor like Jacob Bank, who was right there in the mix, the WBO went in a different direction. They approved the request for Sheeraz to face Alem Begic, who somehow held a #4 ranking despite a resume completely devoid of world-class opposition.
By approving this, the WBO essentially gave Sheeraz an open runway to win a world title. His team, including coach Andy Lee, aren’t even hiding the fact that they’re looking right past this weekend. They are already talking about using this belt to force unifications and chase undisputed status at 168 pounds over the next year.
Begic is a 39-year-old fighter who has a lottery ticket opportunity on a massive stage at the Pyramids, but competitively he is a glaring mismatch. For the fans asked to charge premium PPV prices, this feels less like a historic event and more like a promotional showcase presented as a championship fight to see a major world title treated as a foregone conclusion on the undercard.
Winning a vacant title against a 39-year-old who has never beaten anyone is the ultimate shortcut to a life-changing payday.
If Sheeraz goes out and fights a real threat at 168 pounds like Osleys Iglesias or even Christian Mbilli, he runs a huge risk of getting knocked out, which will completely derail his momentum. By taking this paper title route against Begic, he can call himself a world champion without doing any real damage or risking his hype.
Once that WBO strap is around his waist, he becomes a highly attractive option for Canelo Alvarez. Canelo is always looking for opponents who bring a world title to the table, and a fight against an undefeated British champion like Sheeraz could easily sell out a stadium in the UK or headline a massive card in Riyadh.
For Sheeraz, this is a brilliant business move. He’s using a manufactured title fight in Egypt to position himself directly in the Canelo sweep, knowing that even a loss to a legend keeps his stock relatively high while securing his financial future. It’s a win-win for him, even if it’s the fans who fall short this weekend.
