Hamzah Sheeraz says he has accepted a WBO super middleweight title defense against Janibek Alimkhanuly, but his latest comments leave a large financial escape hatch. Unless Wednesday’s purse bid produces an offer he considers worthy of the risk, Sheeraz sounds prepared to vacate.
The purse bid will take place September 16 after Queensberry and Top Rank failed to reach an agreement. Sheeraz has not received a direct offer from either promoter and doubts Janibek brings enough commercial value to generate the purse he wants.
“We’ll fight. We accept the fight. Let’s crack on,” Sheeraz told the Mr. Verzace podcast. “I haven’t had an offer from anyone yet. I’ve not got an offer from Queensberry. I’ve not got an offer from Top Rank. Now the fight goes to purse bids, so we’ll see what happens. We’re prizefighters. We fight for the right amount of money. I believe it’s going to come to a point where the money is going to be considerably low for the biggest fight of my career. To me, it doesn’t really make sense, especially being a champion as well.”
That does not sound like an unconditional acceptance. Sheeraz is hoping for a lucrative offer while already explaining why a smaller purse may lead him elsewhere.
If the winning bid is enormous, the defense likely goes forward. If it is ordinary championship money, Sheeraz may surrender the title and argue that facing Janibek made no financial sense. The risk became clearer during Sheeraz’s recent defense against Simon Zachenhuber. The little-known German trapped him against the ropes and shelled him with combinations while the champion covered up behind a high guard.
Zachenhuber lacked the experience, accuracy and finishing ability to capitalize fully. Janibek operates at a much higher level and possesses the southpaw angles, timing and offensive variety to punish those defensive spells.
Sheeraz cannot remain stationary against the ropes and expect Janibek to exhaust his attack harmlessly. The former unified middleweight champion can work around the guard, attack the body and maintain pressure without allowing Hamzah comfortable breaks. Sheeraz also withdrew from an ordered Janibek fight in 2024. Vacating this time would create an impression among knowledgeable fans: he did not fancy the matchup.
Complaints about Janibek’s adverse finding will not erase that conclusion. Sheeraz accepted the WBO’s favorable treatment during his own rapid rise at 168. Giving up its belt when presented with a dangerous mandatory would make his position look less like principle and more like lost nerve.
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Last Updated on 2026/09/14 at 11:01 AM
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