Hamzah Sheeraz Against Canelo Alvarez – How Does It Play Out?

Hamzah Sheeraz has his eyes on facing Canelo Alvarez, despite the Mexican losing his Undisputed Super Middleweight Title to Terence Crawford. 

Sheeraz is the WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion, who defeated Edgar Berlanga in his last fight in what was his first bout at 168. There were suggestions that Sheeraz could box Canelo in the UK, but the latter’s loss to Crawford may now have changed things. Sheeraz has stated that he still wants Canelo, but is also open to facing Crawford. Bud could vacate his belts, meaning Sheeraz becomes the full WBC Champion, leaving him with plenty to consider. 

“I could still fight Canelo. I don’t know if he would fight as soon as February, though. I’d just like a shot at the titles. Crawford has got them at the minute. If he stays at the weight, I’ll fight him. I don’t see him going down. There are no big fights for him at 160. Even at 154, you can rule that out. I’d be one of the bigger fights for him,” Sheeraz said 

The Approach

Sheeraz, standing at 6’3″, is known for his accuracy and power. His style is built around a powerful jab and uppercut, which he uses to maintain distance and break down opponents. In his last fight, he defeated Berlanga in a performance that showcased his ability to win on the outside.

For Canelo, a shorter fighter at 5’8″, the challenge would be to navigate Sheeraz’s height and reach advantage. Canelo is a master of pressure fighting, head movement, and counter-punching. He would need to be disciplined in cutting off the ring and getting on the inside, where his body shots and hooks would be more effective. However, as seen in his recent loss to Crawford, Canelo can be outboxed by a fighter who uses superior footwork and range.

A fight with Crawford, the newly crowned undisputed champion, would be the most difficult. Sheeraz would need to use his significant size and reach advantage to his full potential. He may need to keep Crawford at a distance with his jab and prevent him from finding a rhythm. The tactical battle would revolve around Sheeraz trying to keep Crawford on the outside, while Crawford would use his lateral movement and switch-hitting to slip inside and land his sharp counters.

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