BRITISH boxing is in search of a new man to get behind as the era of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury approaches its final chapter and there are few better poised to take advantage than undefeated 160lb knockout artist Hamzah Sheeraz, 21-0 (17 KOs).
After maintaining a now 15-fight knockout streak with three further stoppages over the course of 2024, Sheeraz will now challenge for world honours against reigning WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames, 24-1 (18 KOs), and ahead of the bout, Sheeraz has outlined one clear key to victory.
Generously dubbed as the United Kingdom’s answer to the great Thomas Hearns, the towering Sheeraz refuses to let his size dictate his style and is more than comfortable neglecting the benefits of his 6’3” stature to take the fight to his rivals and exchange in the pocket, reaping the rewards of his sensational punch power.
Last year, the 25-year-old added the well-respected names of Liam Williams, Austin Williams and Tyler Denny to his résumé and emerged as a clear world title contender in the middleweight division, continuously calling for a showdown with unified WBO and IBF title-holder, Janibek Alimkhanuly, 16-0 (11 KOs).
Yet, it will instead be Adames whom Sheeraz will attempt to topple whilst the Dominican seeks to defend his WBC strap for a second time, as both hope to tee up an eventual unification clash with Alimkhanuly later in the calendar.
After being upgraded from Interim champion to full world champion last May, Adames’ lone defence of the belt came against 37-year-old Terrell Gausha the following month.
However, an underwhelming display saw Adames taken the distance for just the second time since 2019, despite being expected to knock Gausha out beforehand.
Speaking with Boxing News, Sheeraz explained that he is taking little notice of Adames’ performance against the Ohioan, before adding the importance of controlling the pace in their upcoming encounter.
“No, [I don’t read much from that performance], not at all. Terrell Gausha wasn’t someone who was going to bring it out of him, whereas someone like me, on a Riyadh Season card [will].
“He is coming to impress, and I am coming to do the same, so it is going to make for a great fight. He is someone who can bang, he is physically strong, so I am under no illusion of what I have got ahead of me, but I am ready for it.
“There is going to have to be a lot of adjusting in the fight, preparation is going well so we are prepared to adjust, but in all honesty, I think that the key for me in this fight is for me to control the pace. Control the pace and make him dictate to me.”
Adames-Sheeraz will take place on the stacked undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s salivating rematch with Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight mantle, with four world title bouts and three Interim title contests on offer on the February 22 bill, as Turki Al-Alshikh begins his 2025 shows in style.
