Hamzah Sheeraz believes that he could be on the verge of a fight with undisputed super middleweight champion
Canelo Alvarez.
In July, the 26-year-old from Slough travelled to Flushing, New York, and produced the most well-rounded, destructive performance of his career to
knock out the fiery Edgar Berlanga.
Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) turned what most expected to be a tough night’s work into a one-sided beating and floored Berlanga three times before the fight was waved off early in the fifth round.
The fight was Sheeraz’s first at 168 pounds, but the win — and the manner of it — made him a viable opponent for the Canelo.
During an interview on the 5Live Boxing Podcast, Sheeraz told Steve Bunce that he believes Alvarez will win the blockbuster showdown and that a fight between the two is a distinct possibility.
“The Canelo fight, it’s there,” Sheeraz said. “It’s the one, providing he goes through Crawford with ease. And I believe he will.
“But at the same time, 168 pounds, I think in the top 10 there isn't one fight where you can match two fighters and be confident one wins. In terms of the fights themselves, any one of them are good to make.”
Until somebody proves otherwise, Alvarez stands alone at the top of the super middleweight rankings.
Sheeraz is one of a number of talented, exciting fighters who are vying for position behind him. As attractive as fights with the
all-action Christian Mbilli, the
promising Diego Pacheco or
heavy-handed Cuban Osleys Iglesias would be for boxing fans, they aren't anywhere near as high profile or lucrative as Alvarez because of mainstream appeal.
Sheeraz appears to be a mainstay in the super middleweight division for years to come and is likely to cross paths with all of those names before his time at 168 is done. Alvarez, on the other hand, is nearing the end of his outstanding career and Sheeraz said it would be impossible to turn down the chance to face the Mexican great.
“But ideally for me, I'd like to face Canelo because the dynamics of the sport as they are now, you've got the opportunity to face one of the greatest fighters in boxing so why not challenge myself and go for it and give it my all?”