There’s no shortage of questions heading into the high-stakes clash between Edgar Berlanga and Hamzah Sheeraz on July 12.

How will Sheeraz acclimate to super middleweight in his first fight in the weight class against a big puncher like Berlanga? Was Berlanga’s effort in the second half of his fight vs. Canelo Alvarez a sign that he’s turned a corner and belongs among the upper echelon at 168?

However, one can argue that no question looms larger than how Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) has acclimated to new trainer Andy Lee heading into the WBC super middleweight title eliminator vs Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) on The Ring’s “Ring III” pay-per-view show at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, on DAZN. Sheeraz decided to leave longtime trainer Ricky Funez for Lee following his split draw against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames on Feb. 22, citing the need for something new to reach another level.

“I'm someone who always needs new ideas to keep the mind working,” Sheeraz told The Ring. “I need to always break new ceilings into new rooms. I feel like Andy's a man who can do that. I went to watch a training session of him and Ben Whittaker, and I liked what I saw. He's a very respectful man. Very well respected, as well, being a world champion, experienced, he has a very calming aura about him as well. I believe that this is the right move for me.”

Lee’s stable includes interim WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, 2020 Olympic silver medalist and rising light heavyweight contender Whittaker and welterweight contender Paddy Donovan. Lee, 41, went 35-3-1 with 24 knockouts and won the WBO middleweight title as a pro from 2006-17.

In his decision to become a trainer, Lee followed in the footsteps of his mentor and Hall of Fame trainer Manny Steward, one of the best trainers of his time, having numerous top contenders and champions, including Hall of Famers Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. Steward also coached and built a special relationship with Lee before he passed away in 2012.

The level of tutelage Lee got from Steward was invaluable. Hall of Fame blow-by-blow commentator Jim Lampley, who grew close with Steward as they commentated fights together during Lampley’s 30-year run with HBO Boxing, believes Sheeraz’s decision to add Lee was brilliant given his ties to Steward and his rapid ascension as a trainer.

“He was a pupil of my dearest male friend ever, my choice as the greatest trainer of the modern era, Emanuel Steward,” Lampley told The Ring. “So he brings that Emanuel Steward pedigree with him into the corner. If I were going to become a prizefighter tomorrow, and I was choosing from among a handful of trainers whom I know and respect in the sport, Andy Lee would certainly be on that list. He might ultimately be the one I trained [with], because I would be so comfortable working with somebody who worked with Emanuel. So I think that [Sheeraz] is making a great choice in going to Andy Lee.”

Still, Lampley also added that some of the pivotal questions that determine whether Sheeraz and Lee are a good match likely won’t be answered until the former finally steps into the ring against Berlanga.

“You never know in your first fight with a new trainer exactly what's going to happen,” Lampley said. “You probably have a better handle on it five or six rounds in. He has to hope that he can make it through the first five or six rounds against a guy who can punch.”

While it’d likely be ideal for any pairing between a fighter and trainer to have at least one fight under their belt before going into a big fight, Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, who trains Julien Williams, Caleb Plant and Kyrone Davis, among others, believes it won’t be difficult for Sheeraz to listen Lee on July 12. However, Breadman also echoed Lampley's sentiment that there's no telling how well they're going to mesh until Sheeraz steps into the ring vs. Berlanga.

“From my experience, you get more out of a fighter when he first comes to you, because he's trying to impress you,” Edwards said to The Ring. “Fighters get a little comfortable with a trainer that they've been around, believe it or not, and we may not do certain things that they used to do. Whereas, if they're trying to impress you, and they just got with you, they become the most cooperative student. I've seen it go both ways. Overall, fighters really try to impress the new trainer. They want to show you that they're worth your while.

“Andy Lee is an outstanding trainer, but I don't know what kind of chemistry that they're going to have.”