Hamzah Sheeraz ‘Chasing’ Chris Eubank – Even If It Means He Has To Win A World Title First
Middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz has said Chris Eubank Jr remains one of his prime targets and is willing to do whatever it takes to secure a fight against his British rival, even if it means he has to win a world title first.
Sheeraz (20-0-0 16 KO) is one of the brightest talents in boxing, with the 25-year-old widely tipped as a world champion in the making. Next up on his journey towards fulfilling those expectations is European champion Tyler Denny (19-2-3 1 KO) on September 21.
Their bout will be the co-main event to the IBF heavyweight world title fight between champion Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
It’s a fight Sheeraz is expected to win handily, and should he do so, he is aiming to use the European title as a springboard for bigger and better things next year, telling Sky Sports: “2025 is the year Hamzah Sheeraz wins a world title.”
The big name in his sights is Eubank, who remains one of the biggest draws in British boxing despite never winning a major world title. Eubank had recently been in talks to fight unified super-middleweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but the Mexican instead signed on to fight Puerto Rican contender Edgar Berlanga on September 14.
Eubank gave an interview earlier this month in which he outlined his ideal opponents for the next couple of years. It included Canelo, a rematch with former foe Billy Joe Saunders – who inflicted the first defeat of Eubank’s career – and family rival Conor Benn.
Sheeraz’s name was absent, with Eubank dismissing the English fighter for not having a big enough profile to make the fight worthwhile. Sheeraz, of course, has disputed Eubank’s claims and believes an all-British showdown would sell out most venues in the UK. However, he said he is willing to bide his time and collect a world title to use as leverage to secure a bout with Eubank.
“He’s the biggest name in the 160lb division. He did an interview not long ago and he said I’m not big enough for him to fight yet. I get that maybe a fight ago,” Sheeraz said. “But now I’m in that prime position where the public are asking for the fight.
“And I think if that fight got announced maybe in the UK, MEN or O2 Arena, it’s an easy sell-out and it would definitely be a fight that could be an eliminator or for an interim [title]. Or if he don’t want it yet, I go graft, get a world title and have a defense against him. But I’m chasing him for sure. He’s chasing the big names, but if I play my cards right, if I do get that superstardom it will only attract him towards me.”
Fighting for a European title in the co-main of a massive event is just reward for Sheeraz following what has already been an impressive year. He began 2024 by demolishing Liam Williams – who took Eubank the distance – inside the opening round, before delivering as captain of Team Queensberry in the 5-vs-5 event in Saudi Arabia in June by stopping Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams in the 11th.
Sheeraz is the overwhelming favorite to defeat Denny, but the 33-year-old southpaw enters the bout in the form of his life. He claimed the first stoppage win of his career against Matteo Signani to become European champion in November 2023 and backed it up with an excellent win over Felix Cash in June in his first title defense.
As such, Sheeraz is aware of both the danger posed by Denny and the catastrophic effect a defeat could have on his own career and ambitions.
“He’s coming to rip everything away from me and he’s been doing that in his last four or five fights. I know what level of confidence he’s got going into this fight. It’s not new territory being the underdog. He’s used to it, he thrives off it,” he said.
“But at the same time, you’ve got to remember the past four or five opponents he’s fought are not Hamzah Sheeraz. I believe respectfully, not disrespectfully they’re all great fighters, but I believe I’m levels above them and I get the chance to prove it on September 21.”
