New York – Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) has surmounted himself at the top of the list for a Canelo Alvarez fight after his impressive victory over Edgar Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) this past Saturday.
(Credit: Golden Boy Promotions)
For those who didn’t know who Hamzah was, they definitely know his name now after headlining the star-studded Ring III card in New York. Sheeraz knocked out in spectacular fashion the self-proclaimed “King of New York.”
During the lead-up to the fight, Berlanga threw several insults at Sheeraz. Calling him a giraffe due to his 6’3 “frame and stating that if he stood in the pocket and fought him on the inside, he would knock him out.
It was Sheeraz, however, who had the knockout victory. This was Hamzah’s first fight at super middleweight, as he was struggling to make weight at 160 pounds. In the match before Berlanga, he fought Carlos Adames to a draw. His weight issues, combined with a hand injury, contributed to his poor performance in the fight. It was then he decided he needed a change; he moved up to 168 pounds and hired Andy Lee as his trainer.
“We’ve only scratched the surface of what he can do. And I knew…well, as we didn’t get off to the best start, but I knew he’d grow into the fight. I never met such a strong-minded, strong-willed young man. He’s very determined and focused, and we’ve only had 8 weeks together. He’s only going to get better,” said Andy Lee of Sheeraz’s performance Saturday night.
This was their first fight together, and there will only be improvement from here on out. Hamzah has excellent potential in this division, to the extent that a Canelo Alvarez fight is being discussed.
“He showed that’s his weight. He was struggling last time in the fight Spencer just mentioned because he was weight drained. He just couldn’t make the weight. He showed how comfortable he is and he done something tonight that Canelo couldn’t do. He stopped him [Berlanga]. He stopped him in style, and he’s announced himself on certainly the New York stage, but on the world stage. He is a phenomenal fighter and from our perspective all eyes will be on that fight in September between Canelo and Crawford,” said Frank Warren at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. The impressive performance has many calling for the Canelo fight.
Turki Alalshikh himself took to X (Twitter):
Hamzah now deserves Canelo in 2026🔥🥊
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 13, 2025
Canelo has a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season. After the Terence Crawford fight this September, he will have two fights remaining. A potential match against Hamzah could be projected for either May or September of 2026, which is when Canelo customarily fights.
Sheeraz was asked by the media at Saturday’s presser what a Canelo fight would mean to him. “It’d be an honor to share a ring with him. It genuinely would, someone who, like I said, I’ve looked up to. Then the next thing you know, you’re…you’re in the ring with them. Do you know what I mean?
“So, like I said, it’s an accomplishment in itself, but one thing I can guarantee is that if I do ever share the ring with Canelo, it’s not going to be the case with what happened in his last fight. Where his opponent was trying to run, I promise you guys, like it’s on camera here, even if I get knocked out, I’ll stand there and trade with him at the end of the day. Do you know what I mean?
“So, I’ll put on a good performance because that’s what it’s about. That’s what it’s about. Being great, daring to be great, and I’ll just do… and I’ll do just that.”
Sheeraz not only gained notoriety and a following with his performance Saturday night, but also did so because of his humble and gracious nature. He is a gentleman outside of the ring and a warrior inside of it. The sky’s the limit for this young talent.
Last Updated on 07/15/2025
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