Tyler Denny’s second-round TKO of Hamzah Sheeraz Saturday cemented his place as the “Nightmare” and “Giant” of the middleweight division. It brings together fighters who have lacked star power since the departures of Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez.
Now the big giant is knocking on the door of 160-pound champions like Janibek Alimkhanuly, Carlos Adames and Erislandy Lara, and whoever answers first is likely to get his title and belt.
“When you see a champion dodge and dodge. You already know what they think of Sheeraz,” ProBox TV’s Timothy Bradley Jr. said on “BoxingScene’s Top Stories” on Monday. “He can fight from the inside and outside. He is very cunning and young.”
Although Kazakhstan’s Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KO) has taken to social media to refute the reports, But Bradley reiterated what people who spoke with insiders about the situation had said: Alimkhanuly’s camp turned down $1.5 million to fight the 25-year-old Sheeraz on Saturday over Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua guard in the arena. Mbley
He was instead paid $200,000 to defend his IBF belt against Andrei Mikhailovich in Sydney on October 4. The WBO, which has England’s Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) as its No. 1 contender, has refused to sanction the bout as a “no-contender”. Defense position
The 6-foot-3 Sheeraz is also the WBC’s No. 1 contender to win the Adames title.
Meanwhile, the glamorous middleweight division has lost its allure in recent years. Shiraz has shown this in 15 consecutive knockouts/stoppages. Including Ammo Williams’ finish on June 1 in a “5-on-5” tournament, he is the most potential successor. Former greats in the division Golovkin, Bernard Hopkins and Carlos Monzon.
“I don’t think we’re putting too much pressure on him – 160 has a strong contender and a tough champion to beat,” former welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi told “Top Stories.” “Shiraz looks like A guy who will be around for a while (from) the way he wins with eye-catching power in a weight class that has always been charismatic. He is very dangerous.”
Hall of Famer Bradley says Sheeraz looks like the “complete package,” with one of the few questions on his mind being how he would respond to a flush chin shot.
“He’s going to have nightmares when one of them steps up and confronts him,” Bradley said. “If (Alim Khanuli) denies it, then they believe their words.”
Former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri said: “This kid is good at everything. He is a special person with that size and power. Now he is ready for the championship.”
It is up to the sanctioning body to best enforce Sheeraz as a mandatory opponent. The IBF has spent the entire year pushing for its regulations. But for now Mikhailovic is ranked higher (3rd to 4th) above Sheeraz, with the top two temporarily vacant.
Algieri rates Adams as the “easiest” fight to make.
“No one will fight him. Unless he has orders,” Malinacki said.
