Who Is Hamzah Sheeraz, The Middleweight Being Compared To Tommy Hearns?
Hamzah Shreeraz took another big step in his exciting career on Saturday night with a spectacular first-round knockout of former world title challenger Liam Williams.
The 24-year-old British middleweight extended his perfect professional record to 19 victories and claimed his 15th stoppage at the Copper Box Arena in London, further cementing his status as one of the most exciting prospects in boxing.
Sheeraz’s promoter Frank Warren wasted no time singing his fighter’s praises, comparing him to one of the greatest middleweights in history.
“[Sheeraz] reminds me of Tommy Hearns, he’s probably got the best jab around,” Warren said. “He doesn’t feel you out with it, he takes your head off.”
A fast-rising talent at 160lbs, Sheeraz’s performance on Saturday would have caught the attention of the entire division, so now is the perfect time to profile a fighter expected to challenge for world titles very soon.
Hamzah Sheeraz Professional Record
Sheeraz has been entirely untroubled throughout his professional career so far. The Essex-born boxer has only been taken the distance four times, and each of those was in four- and six-round bouts early in his career. Since then, no opponent has been able to handle Sheeraz’s skill and power.
He’s been busy collecting belts, too. Sheeraz became the WBO’s junior-middleweight European champion in November 2019 and defended the belt four times. Making the step up to middleweight, he collected the WBC International Silver title in March 2022 and it remains in his possession after four successful defenses.
Sheeraz then added the Commonwealth middleweight title in November 2022. Saturday’s stunning stoppage of Williams was his second defense of that particular title.
Sheeraz comes from a fighting family; even though his father was a professional cricket player, both his grandfather and uncle were accomplished amateur fighters. Sheeraz was a talented amateur himself but briefly walked away from the sport after being overlooked for the Commonwealth Youth championships.
Fighting Style
Tall and rangy with power in both hands, the comparisons with Hearns are clear just by looking at Sheeraz. But the most distinct similarity, as Warren said, is in the jab – and with Sheeraz, it’s all about the jab.
The most common punch in boxing is used for a variety of reasons, but only very few can deploy it as a genuine weapon capable of flooring opponents. Sheeraz certainly falls into that category.
His sheer size and reach would make him a problem for any middleweight rival, but when his physical advantages are supported by a sledgehammer jab – in addition to a well-rounded arsenal of punches – then Sheeraz has all the makings of a world champion.
Former world champion Carl Frampton said it best: “That jab has put the frighteners on every middleweight on the planet.”
Future Fight Plans
World titles are, of course, the ultimate aim for Sheeraz and his promoter Warren, but they have a high-profile domestic rival in their sights for his next fight.
“[Chris] Eubank – if he’s got the balls to do it, because he’d need big balls to get in the ring with him,” Warren said on TNT Sports.
Eubank fought Williams in February 2022 and was taken the distance by the Welshman, although he did secure a wide points victory. Whether he would be interested in such a risky fight against Sheeraz is doubtful, but it would be one the British boxing community would love to see.
Looking further ahead to his world title prospects, Sheeraz is well positioned in the WBC and WBA rankings – sitting fourth and fifth respectively – and is ranked 11th by the WBO.
Speaking after Saturday’s win, Sheeraz said he is ready for anyone in the middleweight division.
“Let’s have it, any 160lber put them in front of me and I’ll beat them,” he said. “I had a lot of doubters going into this fight, it’s part of the sport – that’s how it is. I do my talking in the ring. When I get in here I entertain.”
Warren echoed his fighter’s thoughts and believes he has the ability to dominate the division for years to come.
“I believe he will win a world title and he will hold that title as long as he likes,” Warren said. “There couldn’t be a better advertisement for boxing. He’s an absolute star. He represents modern Britain and he does it in a fantastic way.”
