Hamzah Sheeraz has announced that he has joined up with trainer Andy Lee, ending a five-year run with Los Angeles-based Ricky Funez.

The Ilford man is on the comeback trail after a disappointing split draw with Carlos Adames in what was his first attempt at a middleweight world title on February 22 at The Venue Riyadh Season.

The 6ft 3in puncher has since confirmed he will be moving up to super-middleweight as he plans a fresh assault on the world title picture at a new weight.

But that is not the only switch as he has also moved to Dubai and changed his training set-up too.

During an interview with Boxing King Media, Sheeraz said: “I can officially announce that my new coach now is Andy Lee. I’ve decided to go with Andy Lee in Dublin, Ireland. My next camp will be out there.

“The reason being is I’ve always been studying him. I used to watch him a lot when he was a fighter but never did I think I would train with him until I started seeing how he works in the corner and started seeing him around the Fury team and how he is, how he portrays himself.

“Not until I met him and sat down with him, I liked what I saw. I went to watch a training session with him and Ben Whittaker to see how he was working with Andy. It was great, man.

“It’s old school training, back to basics, learning how to use what you have to the best of your advantage.”

The 25-year-old has been working with Funez since 2022 and the pair have enjoyed a magnificent rise through the middleweight ranks together.

Sheeraz was on a seven-fight knockout streak with Funez until they encountered Adames, the WBC champion, when he laboured to a draw with a broken hand.

While based in Ilford, Sheeraz would travel to Los Angeles for his fight camp and stay in various Air B&Bs in the area while he was training. Now, he will live in Dubai and head to Dublin for training camp.

Sheeraz said: “Quite a dramatic move but I went to see the set-up and it’s perfect for what I need.

“People might say I’m using it as an excuse to change but as a fighter I need a change. I need a fresh start.

It was all on good terms. He’s done a lot for me, took me under his wing when I went to Los Angeles. I’m sure he will train a world champion in the future for sure.

“At the start of Ramadan I moved out to Dubai and now I’m officially a Dubai citizen. Alhamdullilah, these are the things you work for in life. This is the next step in my life.”

Former WBO middleweight champion Lee, 40, a protege of Kronk legend Emanuel Steward, has emerged as one of the best and most in-demand coaches in boxing from his Dublin training base.

Sheeraz joins a stable already boasting the likes of former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, light-heavyweight contender Ben Whittaker and welterweight talent Paddy Donovan.