Sheeraz says Begic negativity sealed stoppage win

Hamzah Sheeraz said opponent Alem Begic wilted after the opening exchanges as the Briton claimed the WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight title with a stoppage victory. The welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight said his opponent's body language told him everything.

“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 fought for the WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight belt in his first crack at a world title. The 25-year-old from Ilford entered the bout unbeaten and campaigned at welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight before stepping up a division. Begic had not lost inside the distance since 2018.

What it moves

Sheeraz now holds a recognised world title and could face a mandatory challenge or step back down to welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight. The win puts him in line for bigger domestic clashes and opens the door to unification talks if he remains at super-middleweight.

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