BoxRec

‘Next contract I sign will be the most important of my career’: Hamzah Sheeraz carefully plots his move

Hamzah Sheeraz isn’t convinced an ordered fight with Janibek Alimkhanuly will actually come to pass.

Here are some excerpts from him below with the full video interview at the bottom.

On making a name for himself in the sport
“Early in my career I wasn’t touted to be a star. I didn’t have a decorated amateur career and it was kind of ‘take each fight as it comes and see where he goes, see if it’s worth investing in him, see if it’s worth giving him opportunities.’ Then it comes to my first European title fight, which was on away soil in the opponent’s back home, and I’d say 99% of people kind of had me down to lose that fight just kind of peg along as a domestic level fighter. And I come through that fight with flying colors and it was from that day that people started to believe in me.”

On being ordered to defend against Alimkhanuly
“He’s got an adverse finding and he’s been mandated to fight me. Okay, it is what it is, we’ll fight, we accept the fight, we’ll crack on. I haven’t had an offer from anyone yet. So, I haven’t got an offer from DAZN, I haven’t got an offer from Queenberry, I haven’t got an offer from Top Rank. Now the fight goes to purse bids, so we’ll see what happens.

“But at the same time I like to believe we’re prizefighters, we fight for the right amount of money. And even if it’s a little bit less, fair enough, it is what it is, but I believe it going to come to a point where the money is considerably low for the biggest fight of my career.

“So, for me, it doesn’t really make sense, especially being a champion as well. But it is what it is now…I just have a funny feeling it won’t be [a reasonable purse] because I don’t see there being much value in the fight from his side or else I would’ve got an offer from Top Rank.”

On going into his final fight with Queensberry
“I’ve been with [Queensberry] from the start, done wonders for me. So when I say ‘exploring my options’ they could well be an option as well. I’m not saying I won’t re-sign with them but I like to believe I’m an honest man, I’ve had this conversation with them as well…When it’s all said and done, I’d like to have done well from it and I believe the next contract I sign will be the most important of my career.”

On Canelo vs Mbilli
“I don’t see it being the end of Canelo…Canelo’s last three performances, or two performances, have been against slick — I wouldn’t say negative fighters — William Scull, very negative. He’d make anyone look bad….Crawford is Crawford. He’s a special fighter. You could put anyone in with him and he’s dealing with them, it’s as simple as that.

“I truly believe that Mbilli is tailor made for Canelo. He doesn’t move his feet, he comes forward, he’s there to be hit and I believe Canelo will get him out of there late. And I believe if he doesn’t get him out late, he’ll have a very comfortable unanimous decision victory, but in an active fight.”

JANIBEK'S MANAGER PLEADS WITH SHEERAZ TO ACCEPT TITLE DEFENSE

When it comes to a fight against Hamzah Sheeraz, Janibek Alimkhanuly and his team have made their stance clear.

“If Hamzah will have the balls to take this fight, it can bring the 'Best Fight of the Year,'" Alimkhanuly's manager Egis Klimas wrote on X.

“It's a huge and big fight for boxing fans. We are in and ready, Hamzah are you ready? Let's bring some fun for our Fans!”

On Wednesday, Queensberry Promotions submitted a winning purse bid of $1,001,809 for the mandated bout between Sheeraz, the WBO super middleweight champion, and Alimkhanuly, the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger. Top Rank bid $850,000.

Two proposed dates are November 28 and December 5, while London and New York are potential locations.

However, while Team Alimkhanuly is ready, willing, and able to accept all terms, Sheeraz is still figuring things out.

"Brother if it was a 'huge fight,' Top Rank or yourself would have put up big numbers," Sheeraz replied to Klimas on X. "You're a smart man, you already know this. But no need to worry."

Klimas hit back again, writing: "Brother, it’s not always about big numbers, as you know we [are] even on the 25% side. But of course it’s for you to make decisions on your own career. Good luck!"

Sheeraz, The Ring’s No. 9-ranked super middleweight, has never been a fan of Alimkhanuly's sudden status as a mandatory challenger. The former IBF and WBO middleweight champion was handed a backdated one-year ban after failing a VADA drug test in the lead-up to his unification bout against WBA champion Erislandy Lara in December.

In July, after Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) announced that he was moving up in weight, the WBO revealed that he was now Sheeraz’s mandatory challenger. They also announced that Alimkhanuly’s suspension was cut short due to him “fulfilling all of the necessary requirements.”

Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KOs) recently told The Ring he would be willing to fight Alimkhanuly as long as he received a significant payday.

That, however, won’t be happening. Sheeraz is entitled to 75% of Queensberry’s bid, totaling just $751,357. Alimkhanuly would take the remaining 25%, coming in at $250,452.

In his last appearance, Sheeraz didn’t look like his explosive self. The 27-year-old grabbed a lackluster majority decision win over Simon Zachenhuber on July 25, two months after winning the title in a second-round KO over Alem Begic.

I'm hearing that he vacated.

It was just obvious that he didn't fancy the fight. I think they know that Janibek is all wrong for him and they are swerving him like the plague.

I heard too.

But the purse bid was way too low. He was never taking such a risk for small pay.

Pacheco or Bank against Janibek for the vacant?

BREAKING. Egis Klimas, manager of Janibek Alimkhanuly, has publicly stated that Hamzah Sheeraz has withdrawn from his ordered WBO Super Middleweight Title bout against Alimkhanuly, with the Brit vacating his WBO Super Middleweight Title as a result

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑18 Sep 2026, 15:18 I heard too.

But the purse bid was way too low. He was never taking such a risk for small pay.

Should have got his own promoter to bid high for it then. Frank obviously doesn't think he's worth more than that. It's just an excuse to not the take fight. He'll get paid less for another fight instead, that's usually what happened.

Gifted title, shit defence, ducked the first credible opponent. Embarrassing from Sheeraz and his team and one of the most embarrassing title runs I can remember.

Good for Hamzah.

Janibek should not have been made mandatory & Sheeraz deserves a much better payday.

Taansend wrote: ↑18 Sep 2026, 19:28 Good for Hamzah.

Janibek should not have been made mandatory & Sheeraz deserves a much better payday.

Does he? I'm not so sure. Every time I start liking him he does something to make me change my mind.

Flump wrote: ↑18 Sep 2026, 20:17

Taansend wrote: ↑18 Sep 2026, 19:28 Good for Hamzah.

Janibek should not have been made mandatory & Sheeraz deserves a much better payday.

Does he? I'm not so sure. Every time I start liking him he does something to make me change my mind.

Like what, Mr Flump?

Taansend wrote: ↑19 Sep 2026, 00:39

Flump wrote: ↑18 Sep 2026, 20:17

Taansend wrote: ↑18 Sep 2026, 19:28 Good for Hamzah.

Janibek should not have been made mandatory & Sheeraz deserves a much better payday.

Does he? I'm not so sure. Every time I start liking him he does something to make me change my mind.

Like what, Mr Flump?

Like fighting absolutely terrible opponents.

So he gave up title because of low payday on next fight, who exactly is going to give him another shot at a title for more money?

Think Hamzah is going to find out the hard way he's been mishandled here.

Lol .... no problem defending that plastic against Begic and Zachenbauer. Now just surrendered. Just like some school bully who is beating weak kids and run away when serious guy arrived. Pathetic by Sheeraz and his team

If Sheeraz comes out and says he’s making a stand and refusing to fight guys who’ve popped with ‘adverse findings’, then fair play. Not entirely sure that’s the reason though, most likely money as usual.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑19 Sep 2026, 04:01 If Sheeraz comes out and says he’s making a stand and refusing to fight guys who’ve popped with ‘adverse findings’, then fair play. Not entirely sure that’s the reason though, most likely money as usual.

That can’t be it. They were happy to chase Canelo after his clenbuterol ban, while Janibek's medication explanation is far more believable. This is about protecting Sheeraz and his fake record.

The guy is so manufactured he doesn’t even use his real first name to be more marketable.

Yea Sheeraz ain't taking no stand, he hasn't got the minerals for Janibek and he's swerving it.

Never got the hype with Sheeraz personally.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑19 Sep 2026, 04:01 If Sheeraz comes out and says he’s making a stand and refusing to fight guys who’ve popped with ‘adverse findings’, then fair play. Not entirely sure that’s the reason though, most likely money as usual.

He did say that at first when Jani was first made mandatory.

Tbh he shouldn’t have been mandatory

Frank is surprisingly honest. Sounds like Sheeraz is ready to go to Zuffa.

Vacated his title and bottled it against the danger man

Disappointing but not unexpected.

Sheeraz first stated Alimkhanuly didn't warrant the mandatory shot because he had never fought at SMW and he had also failed a drug test, but now it's shifted to insufficient money for the title defense. I'm fairly certain all alphabet orgs have a history of randomly moving former champions to the head of the line when they move up in weight, and a failed drug test hasn't stopped Sheeraz from pursuing a fight and subsequent big money payout with Alvarez. I don't know for certain, but I suspect his purse share for the fight with the Kazak would have been among his highest paydays, with the notable exceptions of the Saudi money for the bouts with Berlanga and Adames.

Frankly, it's just not a good look for Sheeraz, who won the vacant WBO title with a gimme fight against a no-hoper and made his first defense - in a bout he barely won - against another low-level opponent, instead of a more deserving challenger in Bank. This time around, he gets a legitimate contender for a title defense that's not a sure thing, and he bails on it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑19 Sep 2026, 06:18

wow, fwank calls out his own fighter.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑19 Sep 2026, 10:51

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑19 Sep 2026, 06:18

wow, fwank calls out his own fighter.

You can only assume he knows Sheeraz is jumping ship