Hamzah Sheeraz Vacates WBO Title After Brief Reign

Hamzah Sheeraz has walked away from his WBO super middleweight title almost as quickly as he claimed it, stepping aside just two days after Queensberry Promotions won a purse bid for a defence against Janibek Alimkhanuly.

The WBO confirmed the move in a statement, revealing that Sheeraz and his team had formally notified the organisation of their decision to vacate.

This is not the usual slow fade of a champion clinging on. It’s a sharp, calculated exit.

Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KO) picked up the vacant belt on May 23, beating Alem Begic, then turned around for a defence against Simon Zachenhuber on July 25. Two fights, two wins, a world title reign that barely had time to take shape before it was over. On paper, it will sit in the record books as one of the most forgettable recent runs with a major belt, rescued only by the fact his appearances came on big event undercards.

Queensberry’s winning purse bid for the Janibek fight came in at just over $1 million. Sheeraz’s share would have been in the region of $750,000.

For a dangerous assignment against a seasoned, spiteful southpaw, that is not life-changing money in the current market. Not when there are other routes, other names, and potentially bigger paydays available without the same level of risk.

Janibek, the former middleweight titleholder, represents a steep climb in class. On paper, he is the most dangerous opponent Sheeraz would have faced as a professional, with the possible exception of Carlos Adames, with whom Sheeraz battled to a disputed draw. Against Janibek, there would have been no easing in, no margin for error, and no certainty the reward matched the threat.

Then there is the wider context that has left a sour taste for many.

Janibek’s elevation to mandatory challenger status at super middleweight comes less than a year after a failed drug test cost him the IBF middleweight title. The IBF acted and stripped him. The WBO did not, keeping him in their picture and now installing him as the man at the front of the queue in a new division. For some, that is a quirk of sanctioning body politics. For others, it is absurd.

Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KO) has not boxed since April 2025, yet now finds himself in pole position to fight for another vacant world title. With Sheeraz stepping aside, the Kazakh will expect the WBO to move quickly to fill the vacancy and line up his next opponent.

Potential Opponents

The rankings offer a clear list of potential dance partners. Janibek currently holds the WBO’s No. 1 spot at super middleweight, followed by:

• Diego Pacheco
• Jacob Bank
• Kevin Sadjo
• Armando Resendiz
• Bektemir Melikuziev
• Edgar Berlanga
• Milorad Zizic
• Hebert Sousa
• Bernardin Jakaj

Somewhere in that mix lies the man who will share the ring with Janibek for the now-vacant belt.

Sheeraz, meanwhile, leaves with his “world champion” tag intact on the résumé, even if the reign itself barely flickered. He avoids a high-risk, relatively modest-reward defence, keeps his unbeaten record, and retains the freedom to chase different opportunities at a time when belts, broadcasters, and promoters are all scrambling for leverage.

He has made his choice. The WBO belt moves on. The question now is who really wins from that decision: the fighter who walked away, or the one walking straight into a title shot after a failed test and a long layoff.