Sheeraz Rejects Alimkhanuly After WBO Ruling

Hamzah Sheeraz has protested the WBO's decision to install Janibek Alimkhanuly as mandatory challenger to his middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight title following the Kazakhstani's suspension for a failed drug test.

Alimkhanuly vacated his WBO middleweight crown earlier this month and moved up to 168 pounds. The sanctioning body then named him the top contender to Sheeraz's belt and gave both sides until September 3 to reach terms or face purse bids, per The Ring.

The unbeaten Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium ahead of his December unification bout against Erislandy Lara. The WBO suspended him for one year but allowed him to keep his middleweight strap. The IBF stripped him. On July 20, the WBO ended the suspension early, citing Alimkhanuly's clean record as a first-time offender and his compliance with certain conditions.

Sheeraz Questions Decision On Clean Sport Grounds

Sheeraz, who captured the vacant WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight title with a second-round stoppage of Alem Begic in May, told Ariel Helwani the ruling contradicts his principles. "I think it's a joke," he said, according to The Ring. "I think what the WBO has done here is disgraceful to the sport of boxing. What you're essentially doing is rewarding someone who popped and also while he's serving a ban. It doesn't matter if it's the first time. Being popped is being popped. The sport we're in, you're risking your life."

The British fighter, who scraped past Simon Zachenhuber on points in July, admitted his ego wants the fight but his stance on clean competition pulls him the other way. Alimkhanuly fired back on social media, challenging Sheeraz to stop complaining and prove himself in the ring. "If you call yourself a champion, then prove it," Alimkhanuly posted on X. "Step up, fight the best, and show everyone what you're made of. Don't sit on a podcast whining and crying about it. Get in the ring and fight."

Sheeraz and his team are weighing their options ahead of the September deadline.

Source: ringmagazine.com