WBO and IBF middleweight champion Janibek ‘Qazaq Style’ Alimkhanuly 15-0 (10) has long been looking for a dance partner who can test him.
Perhaps now he has found one in Hamzah Sheeraz 19-0 (15).
The 24-year-old Brit scored a statement win over former world title challenger Liam Williams 25-5-1 (20) at the Copper Box Arena in Hackney Wick, London on Saturday night.
Welshman Williams, 31, was an experienced campaigner who had only been stopped once before on cuts. Sheeraz had him on the deck twice in the opening frame before referee Mark Lyson waved off the contest at the 2:36 mark.
It was the sort of win that shouted ‘I’m ready’.
That’s certainly what his promoter Frank Warren believes.
“Hamzah Sheeraz truly established himself as the genuine article on Saturday night with his ruthless demolition of Liam Williams at the Copper Box Arena,” the Queensberry Promotions boss said.
“It was a belter of a show, fast moving, competitive, entertaining with plenty of stoppage victories. In fact, nine out of the 11 fights in total went early.
“But it was Hamzah who really showed himself to be a class apart, ending the show with 24 seconds remaining in just the first round.
“His jab is simply sensational and central to everything he does. For his opponents it must be like copping a right-hander. It is such a potent weapon that will serve him so well now he is closing in on world title contention.
“Let’s get this right. Liam is, and has always been, a fearsome competitor. He has encountered serious problems early in recent big fights but has always come through and the only stoppage on his record previously was due to a particularly savage cut.
“Naturally, I believed Hamzah would emerge triumphant. But not like that. I thought Liam would provide significant jeopardy and probably take him into the trenches at some point.
“It was not to be and it was almost a replica of Hamzah’s exploits in Poland, where his jab just destroyed the senses of the man in front of him.
“So where do we go from here? Well, Hamzah will now get ready for Ramadan, which gives us a window to plot his next move and, as I commented on Saturday, he is off the leash now.
“There are some good options out there, but some of those might not be so keen now.”
Given the choice, Warren would be happy to put Sheeraz in with 30-year-old lefty Alimkhanuly next.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have any hesitation over matching Hamzah with Janibek Alimkhanuly, the Kazakh southpaw, who holds two world title belts,” Warren said
“He says nobody wants to fight him, so we have now got someone for him, if he is up for it.
“We will see what transpires and take it from there.”
