Hamzah Sheeraz Takes Advice And Inspiration From ‘Prince Naz’ On Road To World Title Glory
Middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz has revealed he has been taking plenty of advice from British boxing legend ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed – a fighter he is aspiring to emulate.
Sheeraz (20-0-0 16 KO) returns to the ring on September 21 to take on European champion Tyler Denny (19-2-3 1 KO) in the co-main event of Daniel Dubois’s IBF heavyweight world title fight against Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
It’s a fight Sheeraz is widely expected to win, and should he live up to those expectations, it would conclude a highly successful 2024. The year began with a statement first-round knockout of the experienced former world title challenger Liam Williams in February, before coming through his toughest task to date: an 11th-round stoppage of Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams in June.
It puts Sheeraz right in the frame to challenge for a world title in 2025, and if he fights for a belt in his next fight after Denny, it will come only three fights after ‘Prince Naz’ fought and won his first.
‘Huge Honor’ To Be Compared To Prince Naz
“There was a lot of fighters [I aspired to be like],” Sheeraz said. “Prince Naseem was one of them, and I actually spoke to him before my fight and after my last fight. We actually had a good, half-an-hour chat, and the good thing about him is he doesn’t come across as patronizing.
“He speaks to me on a man’s level – on a fighter’s level – and it’s hard to find that ground between ex-fighters and fighters who are coming through now. Huge respect to him – he was definitely one of them.”
As a British-Muslim fighter of Pakistani heritage, Sheeraz draws inevitable comparisons to Hamed, who as a British-Yemeni paved the way for fighters from South Asian families. Another is Amir Khan, who like Sheeraz, is British Pakistani. Khan, an Olympic silver medallist, went on to win numerous world titles in two divisions.
“To be mentioned in the same breath as them two [Hamed and Khan] is a huge honor. It goes back to, ‘Do you recognize you’re getting this attention?’. No, not really. Not until you’re out on the streets and youngsters come up to you and say, ‘We watched your fight on the weekend; we want to be like you; how do you do this? Teach us this’.
“It’s a bit surreal. It’s almost like a pinch-myself moment. In the future, there’s huge plans and aspirations to pass the next generation of South-Asian fighters through to [my promoter] Frank Warren. Who better than him who’s done it, seen it, and whatnot?”
Sheeraz Still Wants Eubank Fight
There had been plenty of talk about Sheeraz fighting Chris Eubank Jr next, although his British rival is reportedly focusing his efforts on securing a career payday against Canelo Alvarez. Despite world titles likely being next for Sheeraz, he insists he’s happy to put those on hold for a shot at Eubank.
“In an ideal world [Eubank would] be the best step for me next – although I am in a position to fight for the world titles, that fight does a lot more for my career,” he said. “Especially if it’s going to be in England – a massive British middleweight domestic dust-up against boxing royalty. I can’t ask for better, can I?”
Meanwhile, the boxing world might have to brace itself for another Sheeraz family member to make his move through the ranks as cousin Zayn Sadiq aims to turn professional imminently.
“Zayn Sadiq turns 18 in two months, so hopefully we’ll get him signed up,” Sheeraz said. “He’s won national championships; he’s absolutely smashed it. He’s seen what it takes to get to the top in pro boxing; he’s been around it, so it’s nothing new to him, and I stuck to my word. He’ll be coming through – remember that name. Hopefully [my late aunt, his mother Shabnum, is] down looking proud.”
