HAMZAH Sheeraz faces a career-defining moment on July 12, one that his manager, Spencer Brown, believes could transform him into a superstar.
Sheeraz moves from middleweight to super-middleweight to take on New Yorker Edgar Berlanga at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, in just under five weeks. The pressure is mounting for Sheeraz after a lacklustre performance in his last fight. Four months ago, Sheeraz battled Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight world title, but Adames dominated and was unfortunate to leave Riyadh with only a draw, retaining his belt.
An impressive victory on July 12 could re-establish Sheeraz’s world title credentials and open doors to life-changing fights.
“It’s a real tough task for Hamzah this one,” Brown said of the Berlanga matchup. “It’s a big fight. Turki Alalshikh has given him a real tough fight but if he comes through we know what’s gonna happen – he’s gonna be a world superstar, he’s gonna fight all the big names.”
Before the Adames fight, speculation swirled about a potential domestic clash with Chris Eubank Jr. Brown says their team remains eager for the matchup.
“I think we want it, but it’s whether Chris does. He’s just come through a war with Conor [Benn]. It’s a more natural weight for him, it’s his natural weight. I think it’ll be a massive domestic fight.”
Eubank Jr. may or may not tune in on July 12, but Sheeraz knows a loss to Berlanga could jeopardize any chance of facing the 35-year-old.
In the second half of the year, a Eubank-Benn rematch could materialize, and Brown expects clarity soon.
“I spoke to Conor the other day, and they said they were working through it. I think they put the rematch clause into play. I think it’s gonna take time. Eddie [Hearn] and all the promoters will get in and hopefully we see it again because it was unbelievable. It’s also down to Turki Alalshikh and what he wants to do because he’s the man behind it all. I think they’re on with it, and we’ll see an answer very shortly.”
