British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz has received a major opportunity, as he has been mandated for a world title shot. This development follows the WBC’s decision to strip Terence Crawford of the super-middleweight championship. The reason for Crawford’s removal from the title stems from his failure to pay the required sanctioning fees.
Background on Terence Crawford’s Title Stripping
Terence Crawford, recognized as an exceptional welterweight, previously moved up three divisions to defeat Canelo Alvarez. This victory allowed him to become the undisputed world champion, holding all four major titles at 168 pounds.
According to the WBC, Crawford was placed “on notice” due to his non-compliance with their rules. Specifically, it was noted that he did not settle the bout fees for his last two fights: one against Israil Madrimov and the other against Saul Alvarez.
WBC’s Communication with Crawford
- The WBC communicated multiple times with Crawford, his manager, and his legal counsel.
- Unfortunately, there was no acknowledgment or response to these communications.
- This lack of response forced the WBC to act decisively.
Hamzah Sheeraz’s Path to a Title Fight
With Crawford stripped of his title, Sheeraz is now set to challenge Canada’s Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight championship. Sheeraz has shown his prowess in the ring, achieving a series of knockout victories during his career. His impressive performances include swift wins over notable opponents like Liam Williams and Tyler Denny.
Recent Performance and Future Prospects
Earlier this year, Sheeraz contended for the WBC middleweight title but ended up in a draw against Carlos Adames. Following that match, he moved up to super-middleweight and secured a dominant victory over Edgar Berlanga in July.
A spokesperson from Sheeraz’s promoter, Queensberry, expressed enthusiasm about this opportunity, stating: “We welcome this news for Hamzah to have the opportunity to become a world champion.”
They further highlighted Sheeraz’s status among the top talents in the sport and mentioned plans to meet with his team to determine the best strategy moving forward. The spokesperson suggested that if Sheeraz captures the world title, he could potentially evolve into a global superstar by 2026.
