Sheeraz: Begic was negative after first punch, I just walked him down

Hamzah Sheeraz said his opponent retreated from the opening exchange in his stoppage win over Alem Begic for the WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight title. The welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight picked up the belt after forcing Begic to fold under sustained pressure.

“It was simple - I saw he was very negative from when I landed the first punch. After that it was about walking him down and getting out of there. That is what we've done.”

— Hamzah Sheeraz, via BBC Sport

What Hamzah Sheeraz said

Sheeraz was fighting for the WBO strap at middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight, one division above his usual weight class. Begic came in as the challenger but offered little resistance once Sheeraz landed his first meaningful shot. The bout ended with Sheeraz walking through his man to claim the belt.

What it moves

Sheeraz now holds a world title at middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight while campaigning at welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight. The win positions him for bigger assignments in either division. Whether he defends the WBO strap or moves back down will depend on the opportunities that follow.

Source: bbc.com. Full Hamzah Sheeraz fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.