Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz could make his first title defense on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s return to Jeddah on July 25, 2026. The event, headlined by Joshua’s bout against Kristian Prenga, is set for the Jeddah Superdome and finds Hearn in discussions with Sheeraz’s promoter Frank Warren and manager Spencer Brown to finalize the details.
The 26-year-old Hamzah Sheeraz (23-0-1, 19 KOs) secured the vacant WBO super middleweight title on May 23, 2026, with a clinical second-round knockout of Alem Begic. That victory took place in an unusual setting inside the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Including the champion on the July card would align with the “The Comeback” theme of the event, which is backed by Saudi boxing financier HE Turki Alalshikh and staged as part of the Jeddah Calendar.
For Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs), the main event against the 35-year-old Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) acts as a critical warm-up. While Anthony Joshua recently stopped Jake Paul in six rounds during a December 2025 clash in Miami, this upcoming appearance is viewed as a stepping stone toward a major contracted fight with Tyson Fury later in the year.
Eddie Hearn targets world championship volume for Jeddah
Matchroom Boxing is looking to deepen the quality of the July 25 broadcast, which will be shown worldwide on DAZN PPV and the Ultimate Tier. Eddie Hearn mentioned to BoxingScene that he expects two world championship fights to bolster the undercard. Beyond Sheeraz, the promoter identified IBF junior middleweight champion Josh Kelly as a likely addition, potentially facing Caoimhin Agyarko.
“I think there could be two world championship fights on the undercard,” Hearn said. “Hamzah Sheeraz may be one of those as well. Obviously, we’ll talk to Frank Warren and Spencer Brown and everybody, and Josh Kelly could feature on there as well. That’ll be announced this coming week.”
The selection of the Jeddah Superdome marks a return to the city where Joshua fought Oleksandr Usyk in 2022. While initial reports placed the event in Riyadh, the move to Jeddah keeps the high-profile show within the Kingdom’s collaborative “Riyadh Season” framework. Fans can expect ringwalks for the main event between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM BST.
Potential lineup for the July 25 Jeddah card
While contracts for the support bouts are still being finalized, several names have emerged as frontrunners for the DAZN-broadcasted event. The following roster is currently under consideration for the Jeddah Superdome:
- Main Event: Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga (Heavyweight) — CONFIRMED
- World Title Defense: Hamzah Sheeraz (WBO Super Middleweight) — RUMOURED
- World Title Defense: Josh Kelly (IBF Junior Middleweight) — RUMOURED
- Heavyweight Feature: Johnny Fisher — RUMOURED
- Heavyweight Feature: “Big heavyweight fight” (Participants TBC) — RUMOURED
The inclusion of Sheeraz would bring a fighter who has already generated significant commercial interest, with boxing earnings estimated to have surpassed $7 million. If the deal closes, Hamzah Sheeraz will bring his power to a massive global audience just two months after his historic win in Egypt.
Hamzah Sheeraz maintains focus despite Canelo Alvarez advice
The rise of Hamzah Sheeraz has inevitably led to comparisons and advice from the division’s top names. Canelo Alvarez recently recommended that Sheeraz should first face IBF champion Osleys Iglesias before attempting to challenge the Mexican superstar. Sheeraz, however, told talkSPORT Boxing that he does not feel bound by the suggestions of a potential future opponent.
“I respect him, but I don’t respect him to a point where he tells me who to fight before I can fight him,” Sheeraz said. He noted that Alvarez’s previous opponents, such as Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga, did not have similar conditions placed upon them.
Sheeraz emphasized that while a fight with Alvarez would be a “bonus,” he remains focused on his own path regardless of whether that specific bout materializes.
The promoter and the fighter’s management are now working to ensure the July 25 card is fully populated before an official announcement next week. The stakes are particularly high for the main event, as Kristian Prenga has warned that Joshua made a “terrible miscalculation” in selecting him.
Prenga, who holds 20 knockouts in 20 victories, intends to derail the plans for a Fury-Joshua bout later in 2026 by producing a “statement performance” in Jeddah.
Logistical details for “The Comeback” are expected to be finalized within days. With tickets already available for the headliner, the addition of two world title fights would cement the Jeddah event as one of the most substantial mid-year boxing programs. Sheeraz’s presence, should it be confirmed, ensures the super middleweight division remains under the global spotlight.
