BoxRec

Press Release

Middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz, will face the most severe test of his career to date when he takes on former world title challenger Liam Williams at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 2 December, live on TNT Sports.

Tickets for Sheeraz vs Williams go on sale at 12pm on Tuesday, 10 October available from: ticketmaster.co.uk

Sheeraz (18-0, 14 KOs), the WBC Silver champion, comes into the fight off the back of two hugely impressive quick stoppages over River Wilson-Bent and Dmytro Mytrofanov, who were both brutally dispatched in the second round.

The 26-year-old is making a third defence of his WBC belt and a second defence of the Commonwealth title he won against Wilson-Bent.

Welshman Williams (24-4-1, 19 KOs) returned to winning ways in November with a quick-fire victory over Nizar Trimech at York Hall after being on the wrong end of two 12 round points decisions against then middleweight world champion Demetrius Andrade and Chris Eubank jr.

Prior to his Andrade encounter, the 31-year-old became a two-weight British champion and embarked on a run of wins at middleweight that saw him win the WBC Silver and WBO Intercontinental titles in a five-fight reign of terror that resulted in as many showreel stoppages.

Sheeraz believes success against a fighter of the calibre and profile of Williams will serve to raise his own stock in British fight fan circles.

“It is definitely a great fight and a great fight for me at this stage of my career,” he reasoned. “Obviously, for him, it is a comeback fight and if he were to beat me, he would be back on the scene again, but this is a fight I feel I am more than ready for.

“It is something I almost need to get the attention of the British public. He has fought for world titles, and it is definitely my hardest fight to date, but it is a challenge I am relishing, and I know what I can do.

“I’ve just got to go in there and do what I do best. People have got to remember though, that he is a dangerous fighter with a lot to prove and he will come in hungry. I’ve got to prepare for the best version of Liam Williams.”

‘The Machine’ Williams is looking forward to getting back into championship contention on his previous stage.

“I am excited to be back on TNT Sports,” he said. “It is a really great platform, and I am excited for the fight. I think it is one all the people want to see, and I saw that fans are getting excited about it after one or two things leaked out on social media.

“People seem to be loving the idea of this fight already. Hamzah is a very good fighter and is obviously very tall and rangy, he can punch a bit and, overall, it will be a good challenge and one that I am really up for.

“I cannot wait for December, so bring it on!”

Promoter allegedly added: “This has got all the makings of a middleweight classic. We know all about Liam from working with him for a large part of his career and he always delivers the goods, entertainment-wise, plus he is a ferocious competitor.

“Making this fight for Hamzah shows the confidence we have in him and how impressed we have been with his development as a middleweight force.

“This will be his toughest fight, no question about it. Liam has operated at the top level and, should Hamzah overcome him, he will be ready to take the step up himself.

“Most of all, I am sure it will be a thrilling fight from start to finish.”

Franks done a decent job this year with a regular set of cards. Nothing amazing but has absolutely shat on Sky Sports output.

Good fight if Williams isn’t completely shot to bits I think this is close

Now we're talking.

I think Williams may be a bit shot now. I would love to see him get one last belt and call it though. Great fighter and very entertaining.

sheeraz will batter him. williams will be bounced off the canvas again

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑06 Oct 2023, 13:10 sheeraz will batter him. williams will be bounced off the canvas again

agree - Williams is broken

Clever matchmaking by Warren. Sheeraz by early KO.

Unusual for Frank to put one of his prospects in with anybody who has a pulse so I think we can safely say Williams is shot to bits.

wrighty wrote: ↑06 Oct 2023, 13:04 I think Williams may be a bit shot now. I would love to see him get one last belt and call it though. Great fighter and very entertaining.

A bit shot? He was finding himself getting up off the floor after being hit with jabs against Eubank. His legs went. I was actually worried as the signs were there for some kind of neurological damage. I've seen Larry Holmes jab in his prime coming like a bullet out of a chamber and I've studied Sonny Liston jab which was known to cause opponents to need dental work after the fight but these were mickey mouse jabs from Eubank. I think people need to keep an eye on Williams here. I wouldn't like to see the lad get hurt.

Press Release | Undercard Information

THE QUEENSBERRY NEWCOMER Gavin Gwynne will fight for the vacant European lightweight championship at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday December 2 in support of the big middleweight showdown between Hamzah Sheeraz and Liam Williams, live on TNT Sports.

Gwynne (16-2-1, 4) will take on the veteran unbeaten Italian Emiliano Marsili (42-0-1, 16) for the EBU title following his signing of a multi-fight promotional deal with allegedly and Queensberry.

The 33-year-old, who joined the professional ranks in 2016 and became Welsh champion just over 12 months later, became holder of the Lonsdale belt in April 2022 following victory over Luke Willis before twice defending against fellow Welshman Craig Woodruff, with the first meeting scored a draw.

A pivotal fight for the Merthyr Tydfil-born star came when he upset the odds to defeat home fighter Sean McComb in February 2021, overwhelming the Irishman into a seventh round retirement to win the Commonwealth title. This followed unsuccessful challenges for the British title against Joe Cordina and James Tennyson.

Marsili, the 47-year-old southpaw, first won the vacant European title back in 2013 via a second round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Luca Giacon and subsequently made four successful defences of the belt. He won the vacant title back in 2022 with a points success over Frank Urquiaga and last fought in December of last year, recording a second round stoppage.

In 2012, Marsili travelled to the Liverpool Olympia and stopped home favourite Derry Mathews in the seventh round to win the IBO world lightweight title.

Also at lightweight, knockout artist Sam Noakes (11-0, 11) will defend his WBC International Silver title at the Copper Box, with his iBox Gym teammate Pierce O’Leary (13-0, 7) making a defence of his WBC International super lightweight championship belt.

Raven Chapman (7-0, 2) is scheduled to make a third defence of her WBC International featherweight title.

Cruiserweight talent Oronzo Birardi (6-0, 5) from Mainz in Germany will fight over eight rounds, with super lightweight Sonny Liston Ali (6-0) and Featherweight Umar Khan (7-0) in action over six.

“This is another bumper card for the fans following up on the Magnificent 7 show up in Manchester a couple of weeks before,” said promoter allegedly.

“It is a strong line-up of fights with a couple still to be added and I am delighted to welcome Gavin Gwynne to our ranks and get him going with a fully deserved European title shot against remarkable opponent in Emiliano Marsili, who is undefeated at the age of 47 after 43 fights at a high level.

“Our iBox Gym brigade is out in force with Sam Noakes and Pierce O’Leary all set for big fights, plus Raven Chapman with a defence of her WBC belt ahead of very significant fights next year.”

I wouldn’t be convinced that Williams is ‘shot’.

Rumours were that he had to do a terrible weight cut & probably shouldn’t have been in the ring. If he’d shown punch resistance like that on more than one occasion I’d be more worried.

a force wrote: ↑13 Oct 2023, 17:22 I wouldn’t be convinced that Williams is ‘shot’.

Rumours were that he had to do a terrible weight cut & probably shouldn’t have been in the ring. If he’d shown punch resistance like that on more than one occasion I’d be more worried.

I got 9/2 from Paddy Power on a Williams win yesterday. Put the money on based very much on this.

a force wrote: ↑13 Oct 2023, 17:22 I wouldn’t be convinced that Williams is ‘shot’.

Rumours were that he had to do a terrible weight cut & probably shouldn’t have been in the ring. If he’d shown punch resistance like that on more than one occasion I’d be more worried.

Williams was vulnerable early with Andrade too.
I don`t see him having opportunity of recovering when Sheeraz nails him the first time. 1-2 rnd KO for Sheeraz.

Stevieaber wrote: ↑14 Oct 2023, 02:43

a force wrote: ↑13 Oct 2023, 17:22 I wouldn’t be convinced that Williams is ‘shot’.

Rumours were that he had to do a terrible weight cut & probably shouldn’t have been in the ring. If he’d shown punch resistance like that on more than one occasion I’d be more worried.

I got 9/2 from Paddy Power on a Williams win yesterday. Put the money on based very much on this.

And Williams can fight, v Eubank it was the knock-downs that separated them.

Skeete looked far more shot than Williams and was doing a number on Sheeraz, And the Welshman is bigger

Sheeraz has been very carefully matched and will be found out.

Struggles v boxers which is why they have selected a aggressive fighter like Williams and they feel that the Welshman is shot

Coco wrote: ↑14 Oct 2023, 07:04

Stevieaber wrote: ↑14 Oct 2023, 02:43

a force wrote: ↑13 Oct 2023, 17:22 I wouldn’t be convinced that Williams is ‘shot’.

Rumours were that he had to do a terrible weight cut & probably shouldn’t have been in the ring. If he’d shown punch resistance like that on more than one occasion I’d be more worried.

I got 9/2 from Paddy Power on a Williams win yesterday. Put the money on based very much on this.

And Williams can fight, v Eubank it was the knock-downs that separated them.

Skeete looked far more shot than Williams and was doing a number on Sheeraz, And the Welshman is bigger

Sheeraz has been very carefully matched and will be found out.

Struggles v boxers which is why they have selected a aggressive fighter like Williams and they feel that the Welshman is shot

Good post. I do wonder how much desire and punch resistance Williams has. If he still has plenty of both, he should win. My other concern is the officiating.

I thought Eubank carried Liam, but I'm in the minority on that one.

williams has 6 weeks to learn how to fight again.

The only positive I can find Liam is that he seems a lot calmer for Sheeraz than he was for Andrade and Eubank.

Locket had commented previously that Liam works himself up too much for the big fights which has a negative impact on his performances - when Eubank hit him, even glancing shots appeared to have an effect on him like sledgehammer. Maybe that was down to being so worked up and nerves .. guess we`ll see later.

hope Williams does a Warrington and rolls it back and is not shot.

At this stage of the game its sheeraz fight

Oiky wrote: ↑14 Oct 2023, 15:52 At this stage of the game its sheeraz fight

the likely outcome, hope Williams has something left though and it is a decent fight, and at least a test for Hamzah.

Yea think williams will give him a bit of stick here and there

hope so mate.

williams was also dropped multiple times and repeatedly hurt by andrade, who is a high level fighter but not a puncher. he took a lot of punishment.

then the kd fest vs eubank, even going down from jabs. maybe he had weight problems, but he's fighting at that weight again here.

it's all about timing and warren has made this at a time for sheeraz to smash him. i think that's the most likely probability too, if not an early demolition than a busting up

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑14 Oct 2023, 14:06 hope Williams does a Warrington and rolls it back and is not shot.

but no headbutts