British 160 lbs contender Hamzah Sheeraz has withdrawn from the WBO’s purse bid ceremony that were supposed to be staged against Kazakh WBO and IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. Despite his withdrawal, Sheeraz’ promoter, Frank Warren, has hinted of a potential clash against any of the other two world champions currently in the division; either American-Cuban WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara or WBC champion Carlos Adames from the Dominican Republic.
The WBO purse bid ceremony had been scheduled for November 18―after already being postponed once―but it was eventually cancelled entirely as the sanctioning body received word that Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KO’s) would withdraw from the purse bids.
“Be advised, promoter George Warren of Queensberry Promotions, on behalf of [Hamzah Sheeraz],” The WBO posted on Twitter/X two days ago. “Confirmed fighter [Sheeraz] will withdraw the mandatory against [WBO] middleweight champion [Janibek Alimkhanuly]. Today’s purse bid is canceled. Committee will reconvene to determine next steps.“
Sheeraz’ withdrawal now sees him removed as a WBO middleweight (160 lbs) mandatory but not necessarily to his detriment as Hamzah Sheeraz would later hint at a fight against another 160 lbs world champion come February 2025.
“Lots of rumours of potential fights. I leave all negotiations to my promoter [Frank Warren] and my advisors in Spencer Brown and Adil Ditta while I grind away in camp,” Sheeraz stated in response to the controversy of his withdrawal. “One thing I can say is come February I will be a world champion.”
Queensberry Promotions chairman Frank Warren himself would also confirm there was another middleweight champion on the cards for the British contender:
“[A world title for Hamzah Sheeraz is still] the intention and fingers crossed we’ll get that done,” Warren revealed to BoxNation. “
This development pinpoints either WBA 160 lbs champion Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO’s) or WBC champion Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KO’s) as potentially the next opponent for Hamzah Sheeraz. Both fighters are currently aligned with US-based promotion TGB Promotions and thereby affiliated with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
As a result of Sheeraz’ withdrawal, another Queensberry Promotions fighter might be ordered by the WBO to face unified [WBO & IBF] middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KO’s); British contender Denzel Bentley (20-3-1, 17 KO’s) who already challenged Alimkhanuly for his WBO title in 2022.
Bentley is currently rated at #2 on the WBO’s 160 lbs rankings, one spot below #1-ranked contender Hamzah Sheeraz. The last match between Bentley and Alimkhanuly went the full 12 rounds and depicted the Kazakhstani champion winning the match handily on the scorecards through a unanimous decision (UD).
Following his defeat to Alimkhanuly, Bentley would record three victories and one loss over the next four bouts. Potentially preventing the WBO from ordering a rematch between Bentley and Alimkhanuly might be the upcoming bout that Bentley is set to participate come December 7 when he faces fellow Brit Brad Pauls (19-1-1, 11 KO’s) on Queensberry’s “Magnificent Seven” card.
In a scenario where Denzel Bentley is bypassed by the WBO to be the next mandatory challenger, #3-ranked WBO middleweight contender, American fighter Shane Mosley Jr. (22-4, 12 KO’s), would qualify as a suitable mandatory to face Alimkhanuly next.
Mosley, 33, is best known for being the son of retired multi-division world champion Shane Mosley but has managed to carve out a decent career since making his pro debut in 2014. A fight against Kazakh champion Janibek Alimkhanuly would make it Mosley’s first-ever fight for a world title.
