Hamzah Sheeraz Reflects on Boxing Career and Upcoming Title Defence

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, July 25, 2026

Hamzah Sheeraz, the 27-year-old WBO super-middleweight champion, is preparing to defend his title against Simon Zachenhuber in Jeddah after rapidly rising from an uncertain start to professional boxing. He aims to unify the division by potentially facing Canelo Alvarez next, signaling his ambition to secure high-profile bouts and cement his status among the division’s elite.

Hamzah Sheeraz has reflected on his rapid rise in professional boxing, recalling the nerves and doubts that surrounded his pro debut. The 27-year-old world super-middleweight champion, who transitioned from the amateur ranks at 18 without competing at the senior level, acknowledged that even his own team feared he might suffer an early knockout. “In the changing room, I remember my manager looked worried,” Sheeraz said, describing the jump from amateur to professional competition. “I was nervous and whatnot. After the fight he goes, ‘I’ll be honest, I thought you was gonna get knocked out!’”

Sheeraz overcame those early anxieties, swiftly making a name for himself by defeating Duane Green. He captured the WBO world super-middleweight title in May by stopping German contender Alem Begic in just two rounds.

Tonight, Sheeraz is set to defend his 168-pound title in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, against Simon Zachenhuber. The champion acknowledges the matchup appears uneven but stressed the importance of seizing any fight opportunity. “I’ve said no to lower-level fights — which I should have said yes to — because I thought, ‘I’m at this level now, I need bigger fights’,” Sheeraz explained. “But what I’ve learnt now is any opportunity I get, I’m taking, regardless of who the opponent is.”

Looking ahead, Sheeraz has identified a potential unification bout against Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez as the ideal challenge. Alvarez, 36, is scheduled to return to the ring on Halloween to fight Christin Mbilli for the vacant WBC super-middleweight title following Terence Crawford’s retirement last September. Crawford, 38, had taken all of Alvarez’s belts in their previous matchup.

“Ultimately it’s up to him,” Sheeraz said of Alvarez’s next opponent. “He’s earned the right to decide who he wants to fight. And if I am that man, then Hamzah Sheeraz is that man.”

Sheeraz’s career trajectory signals his intent to remain a prominent figure in the super-middleweight division as he seeks to unify the titles and face top-tier opponents in the coming months.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.