Hamzah Sheeraz has officially stepped away from a scheduled fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly and has given up his WBO super-middleweight title, according to confirmation from the sanctioning body. The British boxer was ordered by the WBO to defend his title against Alimkhanuly, who holds the top challenger position in the division.
A purse bid took place on Thursday to determine which promoter would host the fight, with Sheeraz’s team, Queensberry Promotions, winning the rights by offering $1,001,809 (£747,903). The only other bidder, Top Rank, offered $850,000 (£634,569) but was unsuccessful. Queensberry had intended to hold the event on either November 28 or December 5, considering venues in London, Birmingham, or New York.
However, the WBO confirmed Friday that 27-year-old Sheeraz has withdrawn. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri shared on X that Queensberry Promotions formally informed the organization that Sheeraz chose not to proceed with the mandatory defense and has voluntarily relinquished his championship. Olivieri expressed respect for Sheeraz’s decision and stated that the WBO remains open to him in the future. The organization will make an official ruling regarding the status of the super-middleweight title and division on Monday, September 21.
Attempts to reach Sheeraz’s manager, Spencer Brown, for comment have been made, while Alimkhanuly’s manager, Egis Klimas, earlier claimed on X that Sheeraz had backed out. Klimas criticized Sheeraz’s decision, calling it shameful and suggesting a lack of courage.
Sheeraz, who has 24 wins and one draw, claimed the super-middleweight belt in May by defeating Alem Begic and defended it against Simon Zachenhuber in July. The challenger, Alimkhanuly, has had a controversial path; in December, he tested positive for meldonium just before defending his WBO and IBF middleweight titles. Although the WBO suspended him for a year in February while allowing him to keep their title, the IBF stripped him of theirs. In July, the WBO lifted the suspension early and named Alimkhanuly the mandatory super-middleweight challenger for Sheeraz’s belt.
In August, Sheeraz expressed his frustration on The Ariel Helwani Show, calling the WBO’s handling of the situation a “disgrace to the sport of boxing.”
Fan Take: This development is a major shakeup in the super-middleweight division that fans have been closely watching. Sheeraz’s decision to vacate the title instead of facing Alimkhanuly could open new opportunities for contenders but also raises questions about the sport’s politics and the enforcement of mandatory fights.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
