It has been revealed that Hamzah Sheeraz has withdrawn from the ordered fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly, and it is now unknown who Sheeraz will face on the Riyadh Season card on February 22nd.
Hamzah Sheeraz, now 21-0 at the time of the initial report, was coming off a two-round demolition job on Tyler Denny to claim Denny’s European Middleweight title on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium. This marked the latest win in a formidable run of form for the Ilford-born boxer, with previous notable victories over Liam Williams and Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams. Sheeraz had not heard the judge’s scorecards in any of his bouts since 2018, showcasing his impressive knockout power. According to his promoter, Frank Warren, Sheeraz was set to fight for a world title next.
Frank Warren said in an interview with TalkSport, ‘He will be fighting on February 22nd in a world title fight’.
If this were true, Sheeraz had three potential opponents for the February card, which was set to be headlined by Daniel Dubois: Erislandy Lara, Carlos Adames, and Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Hamzah Sheeraz Withdraws From Janibek Fight
Despite rumours of a bout against Carlos Adames being the opponent, fans across the world had been calling for Sheeraz to face Janibek in what would surely be a blockbuster middleweight bout. Janibek was ordered by the WBO to face Sheeraz next. At the time, Janibek Alimkhanuly, known as “Qazaq Style,” held the WBO middleweight title and had recently unified the division by stopping IBF champion Vincenzo Gualtieri in October 2023. His professional record stood at an undefeated 16-0 with 11 knockouts.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, however, stated that Hamzah Sheeraz had withdrawn himself from the ordered fight, meaning purse bids were now cancelled. This withdrawal left the middleweight landscape in flux, particularly for the highly anticipated Riyadh Season card.
Alimkhanuly boasted a record of 16-0 (11 KOs) at the time of the article, with significant wins over Andrei Mikhailovich (TKO in October 2024), Danny Dignum (TKO in May 2022), and Denzel Bentley (unanimous decision in November 2022). Bentley notably ran Alimkhanuly closer than many others in the eyes of fans, losing a 12-round unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110. This performance by Bentley had led to calls from some fans for him to fight Sheeraz as well.
The Riyadh Season Card and Sheeraz’s Actual Opponent
The question then was, if not Janibek, then who? Erislandy Lara was 41 years old at the time and had just come off a win over Danny Garcia only two months prior. This left Sheeraz either facing Carlos Adames, who had not outright disputed that an offer had been made to his team, or an opponent without a title. As it turned out, Hamzah Sheeraz did indeed fight on the Riyadh Season card on February 22, 2025, but not against Janibek. Instead, he faced WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames.
The highly anticipated clash between Sheeraz and Adames for the WBC middleweight title ended in a controversial split draw. The judges’ scorecards were 115-114 for Sheeraz, 118-110 for Adames, and 114-114, resulting in Adames retaining his title. The fight was a tactical affair, with Sheeraz attempting to use his height and reach advantage to keep Adames at bay, while Adames pressed forward, focusing on body shots and trying to get inside. Despite the draw, Sheeraz’s performance against a seasoned champion like Adames, who had a record of 24-1 with 18 KOs going into the bout, solidified his standing as a top contender in the middleweight division.
Sheeraz’s Continued Rise and Alimkhanuly’s Title Defenses
Following the draw with Adames, Hamzah Sheeraz continued his busy schedule. He went on to defeat Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams by technical knockout in the 11th round on June 1, 2024, in a WBC middleweight title eliminator at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. This extended his impressive knockout streak and further cemented his position for future world title opportunities. Sheeraz then faced Edgar Berlanga on July 12, 2025, winning by knockout in the 5th round. His current professional record stands at 22 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw, with 18 knockouts.
Meanwhile, Janibek Alimkhanuly, after the ordered fight with Sheeraz fell through, continued to defend his unified IBF and WBO middleweight titles. He successfully defended his belts against Andrei Mikhailovich on October 4, 2024, winning by TKO in the ninth round in Sydney, Australia. He then faced Anauel Ngamissengue on April 5, 2025, in Astana, Kazakhstan, securing another stoppage victory in the fifth round. However, his reign as unified champion was cut short in March 2026 when he was stripped of the IBF middleweight title following a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, resulting in a one-year suspension. He retained his WBO middleweight title. His current record stands at 17 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws, with 12 knockouts.
Implications for the Middleweight Division
Despite his impressive run-of-form so far, Sheeraz’s withdrawal from the ordered Janibek fight initially marked a disappointing turn, especially after much back-and-forth on social media between Sheeraz and Alimkhanuly. However, his subsequent performance against Carlos Adames, even in a draw, proved his mettle at the world level. The draw means that the WBC middleweight title picture remains intriguing, with a potential rematch between Sheeraz and Adames a strong possibility.
Janibek Alimkhanuly’s positive drug test and subsequent IBF title stripping have significantly altered the middleweight landscape, leaving the division “wide open” according to some reports. While he retains the WBO belt, his suspension creates an opportunity for other contenders to vie for the vacant IBF title and other championships. Fighters like Denzel Bentley, who previously challenged Alimkhanuly, have already called for a rematch, highlighting the shifting dynamics. The middleweight division, known for its rich history, continues to be a hotbed of talent, with Hamzah Sheeraz firmly established among its elite, despite the unexpected twists and turns in his path to a world title.
It remains to be seen who Sheeraz will face next, though his last tweet, on November 14th, 2024, stated, ‘One thing I can say is come February I will be a world champion In Sha Allah’. While he didn’t secure a definitive world title win in February 2025, his draw against Adames and subsequent victories have kept him on the cusp of championship glory.
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