Sheeraz saw Begic turn negative after opening punch in title win

Hamzah Sheeraz says he knew his WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight title fight was won the moment he landed his first punch on Alem Begic. The welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight walked his opponent down before finishing the job.

“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 captured the WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight title against Begic. The welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight had targeted a stoppage victory and delivered on his promise. Sheeraz told BBC Sport that Begic's reaction to the opening exchanges shaped his approach for the rest of the fight.

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. His next move will depend on what the WBO does with its mandatory picture and whether other belt-holders want to unify. The stoppage win puts him in position to call for bigger names.

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