Hamzah Sheeraz vacates world title after branding mandatory defence ‘corrupt’

Hamzah Sheeraz has chosen to vacate his WBO super middleweight title, rather than face mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly.

Sheeraz claimed the burgundy and gold strap in May against unheralded German Alem Begic, before making a head-scratching defence in July against Simon Zachenhuber, who had lost to Central Area champion Pawel Augustynik only three months prior.

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The 27-year-old was then ordered to box Alimkhanuly, a former unified middleweight champion controversially installed as the No.1 contender after failing a drugs test last year.

As both parties were unable to strike a deal in the allotted time, a purse bid was ordered, which Sheeraz's promoter, Queensberry, won with a proposal of $1,001,809.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sheeraz was set to pocket 75 per cent of the prize pot (roughly $751,356.75), with Alimkhanuly taking the other 25 per cent.

November 28 and December 5 were both put forward as the preferred dates for the fight by Queensberry, with London, Birmingham, and New York all earmarked as possible locations.

But while Alimkhanuly accepted his side of the deal, Sheeraz did not.

WBO releases statement

“The WBO confirms that Queensberry Promotions has formally notified in writing that Hamzah Sheeraz, per the terms resulting from the purse bid proceedings concerning his mandatory obligation against Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, has elected NOT to proceed with the Mandatory and has voluntarily relinquished his WBO Super Middleweight World Championship," read a statement from WBO president Gustavo Olivieri.

“The WBO acknowledges and respects the decision of Hamzah and his team.

"The WBO doors will always remain open to him, and we sincerely wish Hamzah and his team all the very best and continued success moving forward.

“The WBO World Championship Committee will render the applicable ruling on Monday, September 21, regarding the status of the WBO Super Middleweight World Championship and the division moving forward.”

Sheeraz had previously branded the WBO's decision to mandate Alimkhanuly as "corrupt" and had even implied that he may give up his belt.

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Hamzah Sheeraz brands WBO's decision 'corrupt'

Speaking to the Ariel Helwani Show last month, he said: "I think it's a joke.

"I think what the WBO have done here is disgraceful to the sport of boxing.

"What they're essentially doing is rewarding someone who has [tested positive], so to me, it doesn't make sense.

"What the WBO have done here — to me, it's corrupt.

"And I'll say it as it is, I feel like it's all based off relationships.

"These moves being made are all based off personal relationships or whatever it may be, because it's come out of nowhere and is extremely not right for the sport of boxing...

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“That [vacating the title] is something that I will have to discuss with my team.

"What they have done, it pushes you into that corner of me eventually thinking like that and, if I was to do that, it would be totally justifiable. 

“I keep banging on about morals, and that is what it is down to.

"It is down to being a clean athlete, being someone who stands for clean athletes and one who is true to that and represents that."

The WBO will now look to make a vacant world title fight between Alimkhanuly and the highest-ranked available challenger.

At the time of writing, Diego Pacheco is ranked at No.2, with Jacob Bank occupying the No.3 spot.

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