Hamzah Sheeraz - Destined for superstardom at 160?

In a division crying out for a new star, the British middleweight looks ready to take centre stage

Last Saturday, June 1st, on the epic Riyadh Matchroom vs Queensbury card, rising British Middleweight star Hamzah Sheeraz (20-0, 16KO) put in the best performance of his career so far, methodically breaking down and stoppage the emerging prospect in his own right, the tough American southpaw Austin 'Ammo' Williams (16-1, 11KO).

This was an excellent learning fight for both, where Sheeraz was always in command, using his huge 6ft 3 frame and reach to land hard and accurate straight shots from range, as well as an impressive selection of both hand uppercuts and short right hooks on the inside, one of which caused the first serious breakthrough in the tenth, sending Williams reeling forwards and right knee hitting the canvas.

This was not all one way traffic however, with Sheeraz kept honest throughout from the defiant Williams who never stopped trying, also landing several straight back hands of his own, one of which shook the now WBC Silver champ to his boots in the second stanza.

The victory was eventually sealed in the eleventh, with the brave Williams attempting to rally back whilst the calm and composed Sheeraz beckoned him in with hands high and back to the ropes. Once the velocity of Williams onslaught wavered, Sheeraz snapped into action, starting with a sharp counter right hand out of his peekaboo guard, before unleashing a savage barrage with both hands to send Williams stumbling back into the opposite corner. Rightly the referee had seen enough.

This was a meaningful fight at the top of a weight division which has always been one of the hotly contested and talent rich in the sport of boxing, typically casting a leading light as well as elite repertoire of supporting cast members. Since the turn of the new century we have seen the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Kelly Pavlik, Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovklin rein supreme, however uncharacterisically in its current state the division is lacking a superstar attraction to revive to division to its prior glory years.

With victory last Saturday, Sheeraz is now in prime position to challenge for the full WBC title, which will be formally contested between the Dominican banger Carlos Adames and the seasoned American Terrell Gausha on June 15th. Carlos Adames is on an impressive run and has earned his shot, however the selection of Terrell Gausha in the opposite corner, a man who has repeatedly come up short at world level down at 154lbs, really typifies the landscape of the middleweight scene at present.

Other title holders include a 41 year old Erislandy Lara (WBA) and unbeaten Khazak Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (WBO & IBF), who it must be said looked unspectacular when outpointing Denzel Bentley in a title defence back in November 2022. Timing wise Sheeraz really couldn’t be knocking on the door of world honours at a better time, as Queensbury would surely bite your hand off in an instant for a shot at any of these current title holders.

Perhaps the only thing missing for Sheeraz now is to build up his global profile, though last weekends performance against a highly rated American prospect will certainly have cranked up the excitement. What Sheeraz really needs now if a world title shot isn’t the immediate offing, is a globally recognisable name.  Thankfully there is one right at home. Chris Eubank Jr.

The enigmatic box office attraction is still alive and kicking, most recently pulling off an impressive revenge victory of Liam Smith. Though this fight would not have a world title on the line, it is by far the biggest fight available to Sheeraz and would help considerably in catapulting his name from hot prospect to one of the legitimately top fighters and attractions in the UK. As has been the case throughout Eubank’s career, he will go where the money is, but realistically there aren’t an abundance of bigger fights out there for him between 160-168.

Anthony Joshua will be headlining a huge Riyad Season showcase event at Wembley in September and as is the case with all RIyad Season cards, you envision an impressive supporting card of genuine 50/50 match ups. From the outside a Sheeraz vs Eubank Jr chief support would surely be the perfect appetizer.

Time will tell what is next for the supremely talented boxer puncher. However with a wide open division of fragmented and winnable world title belts, as well as a household name and fellow British rival coming to the tail end of his career on the lookout for a big fight, the stars really do seem aligned for Hamzah Sheeraz to become a global star and the leading charge at 160lb’s over the next 12 months.