Sheeraz Vacates WBO Title Days After Purse Bid For Janibek Fight

Hamzah Sheeraz has vacated his WBO middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight title, just two days after Queensberry Promotions won a purse bid to stage a fight between Sheeraz and Janibek Alimkhanuly.

Sheeraz won the vacant title in May with a stoppage of Alem Begic and made one defense against Simon Zachenhuber, a brief reign that included two appearances on major cards.

The decision to walk away likely came down to money — Queensberry's winning bid was just over $1 million, leaving Sheeraz an estimated $750,000 for the fight, an amount he may be able to top elsewhere against a less demanding opponent.

Janibek, who hasn't fought since April 2025, was appointed the WBO's mandatory contender despite a failed drug test last year that led the IBF to strip his middleweight title — a step the WBO chose not to take.

Janibek now sits atop the organization's rankings for the vacant title, ahead of Diego Pacheco, Jacob Bank, Kevin Sadjo, Armando Resendiz, Bektemir Melikuziev, Edgar Berlanga, Milorad Zizic, Hebert Sousa and Bernardin Jakaj.