Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic | DAZN - 23 May 2026

[Goz]

Another fight that perfectly sums up everything wrong with boxing. Begic should be nowhere near a title shot. Three fights ago he was fighting his manager’s younger brother. His resume is an absolute joke and he hasn’t faced anyone remotely credible.

But 29-0 with 23 KOs looks nice on a graphic, so now he’s being used as a handpicked opponent to gift Sheeraz a title.

Fights like this are why it’s hard to take boxing seriously as a sport.

And the 'fight' bore that out!

[johnty1888]

What a mismatch…..these sort of match ups are part of the reason I’m loosing interest in the sport.

[Kit]

Begic is not area title level in the uk, I find it a work of art how they manufactured a 30 fight unbeaten record and WBO ranking.

[Heldenjaeger]

Begic is not area title level in the uk, I find it a work of art how they manufactured a 30 fight unbeaten record and WBO ranking.

He’s basically a fairly wealthy guy with connections in the local boxing scene who had 30 fights for the experience and enjoyment of it. The unbeaten record itself was carefully manufactured, but the WBO ranking is the truly fascinating part. That’s the bit where you start wondering whether our favourite uncles Frank and Turki may have quietly delivered a little “support package” to the organization.

[Taansend]

Original thread went missing went Boxrec decided to backdate a week.

Great. It gets me a chance to say this again....

Begic is a German Lou Gent.

Ta-daaa......

I would like to sincerely apologise to Lou Gent

[Riddick Bowie]

One of the DAZN carnies last night, probably Bellew: 'He's won a world title. Now he has to prove himself.'

In a serious sport, wouldn't a competitor have proven himself by winning a world title?

[Riddick Bowie]

Another fight that perfectly sums up everything wrong with boxing. Begic should be nowhere near a title shot. Three fights ago he was fighting his manager’s younger brother. His resume is an absolute joke and he hasn’t faced anyone remotely credible.

But 29-0 with 23 KOs looks nice on a graphic, so now he’s being used as a handpicked opponent to gift Sheeraz a title.

Fights like this are why it’s hard to take boxing seriously as a sport.

It was so much like a 90's era WBO title fight, wasn't it? The carefully protected cash cow pitted against the inept importee with the dodgy record. Commentators trying to maintain the kayfabe with a straight face. Having won via farce, cash cow talks tough about big name opponents -- the equivalent of the 'HOLD ME BACK!!' guy.

Reality: 'im going to defend at home against Willi Fischer Jnr'

[Ruthless-RKO]

One of the DAZN carnies last night, probably Bellew: 'He's won a world title. Now he has to prove himself.'

In a serious sport, wouldn't a competitor have proven himself by winning a world title?

I mean.. being Begic wasn’t hard. He had no business being in there.

Defending it will be hard. Depending on who he fights.

He needs a good opponent. He’s beaten some decent names already. But now it’s time for the real grind.

[Oiky]

what an embarassing turnout for sheeraz

what do you even learn from that

[keithmoonhangover]

what an embarassing turnout for sheeraz

what do you even learn from that

I learned that me putting a lump of money on him to win by stoppage at 1/6 was perhaps the easiest bet I've ever won.

[JamesPhilips]

what an embarassing turnout for sheeraz

what do you even learn from that

I don’t think anyone expected him to learn much but it’s given him a world title. He’ll be protected by Frank

[keithmoonhangover]

what an embarassing turnout for sheeraz

what do you even learn from that

I don’t think anyone expected him to learn much but it’s given him a world title. He’ll be protected by Frank

I was surprised that no one mentioned CEJ in the ring afterwards. That could be a massive fight.

[JamesPhilips]

what an embarassing turnout for sheeraz

what do you even learn from that

I don’t think anyone expected him to learn much but it’s given him a world title. He’ll be protected by Frank

I was surprised that no one mentioned CEJ in the ring afterwards. That could be a massive fight.

Cej just lost at middle - would even the WBO be corrupt enough to make him a challenger at super middleweight? I mean….. although didn’t they just sanction Verhoeven Usyk

[Taansend]

what an embarassing turnout for sheeraz

what do you even learn from that

I don’t think anyone expected him to learn much but it’s given him a world title. He’ll be protected by Frank

I was surprised that no one mentioned CEJ in the ring afterwards. That could be a massive fight.

True, but sad.

We have Canelo v Mbilli in September.

Iglesias will fight again this year. He's my pick for the best.

Munguia will probably fight on the Canelo undercard.

Lester Martinez also holds a belt (bloody hell, how many belts?)

Pacheco is still lurking about & only 25. That Danish kid, Jacob Bank.

And half a dozen others I'd much rather see than a 36 year old man who's been battered by smaller men twice in his last few fights.

[johnmanchester]

Was Frąnk Warren there last night? Didn't see him

[Ruthless-RKO]

Was allegedly there last night? Didn't see him

Don’t think he was.

He wasn’t at the last Queensberry card in Donny as well.

He feels under the weather most these days and misses events.

[Taansend]

He's been on the piss celebrating Arsenal.

[THEBUTCH]

Sheeraz talked about God blessing him, and no wonder ! Begic was a gift

Carl Froch had a vacant world title shot too but waged war with Jean Pascal

Zero comparison

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hamzah Sheeraz wins first world title with Round 2 stoppage of Alem Begic in Egypt

Hamzah Sheeraz bulldozed his way to his first world title by stopping Alem Begic in Round 2 with a vicious body shot on Saturday.

Sheeraz (23-0-1, 19 KOs), 26, from east London, won the vacant WBO world super middleweight title after dominating the first round and then left his German opponent in agony with a left to the body at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Begic (29-1-1, 23 KOs), 39, from Munich, quickly discovered he was out of his depth as Sheeraz landed thudding jabs and then opened up with left hooks in Round 2 on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk's world heavyweight title defence vs. Rico Verhoeven.

Sheeraz secured the win two minutes and 33 seconds in Round 2, then did not waste any time in stoking up interest for a potential fight vs. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (63-3, 39 KOs), the former undisputed world super middleweight champion who announced earlier Saturday he will challenge WBC titleholder Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) on Sept. 12.

"I did what I was meant to do tonight, let's not get it twisted, but it's got me to the world stage and I'm calling on all 168 pounders," Sheeraz said afterwards.

"It was simple, I saw he was very negative after I landed the first punch and it was about walking him down and getting him out of there.

"I will fight anyone. There's royalty [sat] ringside and I'm trying to follow in their footsteps, we know who was meant to be in the ring tonight but that didn't happen. I will collect all the belts and this time next year you could see Hamzah Sheeraz as the unified champion of the 168 pound division. If Canelo wins his next fight then it's up to him. I believe he [Canelo] is one of the GOATs of boxing and to share the ring with him would be an honour and if I get the opportunity I will get the win for sure."

Sheeraz went into the fight off a brutal fifth-round stoppage on Edgar Berlanga in New York last July and was determined to improve upon the disappointing draw vs. WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames in his previous world title attempt in February last year.

Begic had not mixed in the same class as Sheeraz and he was outclassed from the opening bell.

Six-foot-three Sheeraz started on the front foot behind a stiff jab as Begic spent most of the opening session covering up. Sheeraz let his hands go in Round 2 with a series of left hooks and Begic offered nothing in reply. As Begic covered up, he left himself exposed to a body shot and Sheeraz seized the opportunity by digging in a left. Begic was left doubled up in pain and unable to beat the count.

This was Sheeraz's second fight with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee as his trainer and it's a partnership that is clearly working.

"I've only worked with him two fights and I'm world champion," Sheeraz said. "This was just the start of what I can do."

[MPW]

This so-called championship bout turned out pretty much the way that I and everyone else expected. Begic had absolutely no business getting tabbed to fight for the vacant world title and was brought in by the WBO to be little more than a sacrificial lamb. Let's hope the alphabet organization raises its game and lines up a more suitable challenger for Sheeraz to make a first defense against, but I'm not optimistic.