Hamzah Sheeraz’s mandatory WBO super-middleweight title defence against Janibek Alimkhanuly has taken a significant step forward after the promotional rights for the fight were decided at purse bids.
The WBO ordered Sheeraz to face former unified middleweight champion Alimkhanuly after the Kazakh moved up to 168lbs and was installed as the mandatory challenger. Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank were given a period to negotiate terms, but no agreement was reached before the deadline, sending the contest to purse bids in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Sheeraz won the vacant WBO super-middleweight title by stopping Alem Begic in the second round in May before making his first defence against Simon Zachenhuber in July.
Alimkhanuly, meanwhile, is looking to become a two-weight world champion after previously holding the WBO and IBF titles at middleweight. His move into mandatory position has already proved controversial, with Sheeraz publicly questioning the WBO’s decision following Alimkhanuly’s positive test for meldonium last year.
The result of the purse bid now gives the winning promoter control over the staging of the fight, with a date and venue expected to follow.
Top Rank, representing Alimkhanuly, submitted a bid of $820,000 with proposed dates of December 11 and December 19 in Las Vegas. This was trumped by Queensberry in Sheeraz’s corner, bidding $1,001,809 with dates of November 28 or December 5 in London, Birmingham or New York City. Sheeraz is guranteed 75% of the purse and Janibek the remainder.
Given Janibek’s past controversy, Sheeraz – who called the order ‘corruption’ – has not ruled out vacating the belt, though such a decision would leave him with less bargaining power when it comes down to facing the division’s biggest names, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez included.
