RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA -- Carlos Adames might enter this weekend's WBC middleweight championship defence as an underdog, but the 25-year-old title challenger's coach Ricky Funez expects nothing but the best from a motivated titleholder keen to dim Hamzah Sheeraz's rising star in the Saudi capital.

Los Angeles-based Funez was ringside for the Dominican's most recent fight, a UD12 title win over longtime contender Terrell Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs) last June and told The Ring he expects some openings and opportunities to present themselves given Adames' aggressive tendencies.

"There are a lot of opportunities we see that can happen with us, I've just told Hamzah not to get careless, no mistakes, he's prepared well and chained together certain combinations in the gym to use in the fight," he began.

On what makes the 30-year-old (24-1, 18 KOs) stand out from the rest at 160-pounds, Funez pointed to his fearsome punch power. Among The Ring's top-10 ranked middleweights, only No. 2-ranked Sheeraz and European champion Denzel Bentley (17-3-1, 13 KOs) at No. 10 boast better numbers than his 75% knockout ratio.

Adames' bruising ninth-round sequence saw a merciful intervention by referee Mark Nelson against Julian Williams in June 2023, saving J Rock from further damage, eight months after Adames' scary stoppage in three to dismiss agemate Juan Macias Montiel during their interim world title contest.

Having outworked three-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko on his 160-pound debut in December 2021, Adames has continued building credit in the bank against difficult opposition and Funez warns his charge must be wary.

"Hamzah's got to be very disciplined, everything falls into place from the main key - his jab - whether it's the right hand, uppercuts, hooks.

Carlos opens up a lot, he's a rugged fighter who wants to come and throw the kitchen sink at you. If you're stationary against him, he can and will hurt you. He's shown an ability to do that so we can't get confident, just got to stay very alert with head movement and keep using that jab, Adames is game and will come in at the best shape of his life."

Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) has won 15 straight by knockout and done so in various ways, whether weathering adversity and composing himself to execute or systematically breaking opponents down. Funez believes this weekend will be no different.

"Play our cards right, we'll still overcome and maybe stop this kid. Can't look for the knockout but just do what we do best, take your time and relax, let it come naturally."

Former European champion Tyler Denny (19-3-3, 1 KO) will return on Easter Sunday and while Sheeraz most recently dismantled him in two rounds last September, Funez attributes the Austin 'Ammo' Williams experience three months prior as the one reinforcing his belief they were ready for this opportunity.

Captain of Frank Warren's Queensberry team in their 5v5 matchup against Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable, Sheeraz earned double points in what ultimately proved a clean sweep on June 1, beating a then 16-0 contender.

It didn't go all his own way though, Williams starting well and the American southpaw found success in the early rounds behind his looping left hand, followed by a right which wobbled the pre-fight favourite.

Funez insists his charge will have benefited from the whole experience nonetheless, at a higher level than the adversity endured two years prior after being dropped for the first time as a pro by Argentina's Francisco Emanuel Torres.

"He got buzzed a couple times, it's an experience and he can learn. Hamzah got influenced by Frank [Warren] shouting at him to throw the right uppercut when he shouldn't have, people were questioning the chin after the flash knockdown against Torres but Ammo is a hard-hitter!

Hamzah didn't go down and that showed me his jaw is strong, that night built up a lot of character, to go 11 rounds and push with the gameplan, Adames will come in with the same mentality. I've just got to keep him cool in there."