WBO president Gustavo Oliveiri introduced at the moment that top-ranked middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz has withdrawn from his ordered title shot towards Janibek Alimkhanuly simply earlier than the purse bid.
Per Jake Donovan, Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KO) will “most definitely” parlay his number-one spot with the WBC right into a February twenty second shot at Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KO) in Riyadh. It’s not pretty much as good a matchup because the Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KO) combat, nevertheless it’s stable sufficient. Adames, although he’s struggled to constantly wow within the ring, continues to be among the many better of a top-heavy division.
As others have identified, it is a calculated transfer on Warren’s half. The winner of no. 2 Denzel Bentley vs no. 4 Brad Pauls subsequent month will virtually definitely exchange Sheeraz because the WBO necessary, which means Queensberry can nonetheless have one in every of their very own problem Alimkhanuly whereas setting the stage for a future three-belt unification combat with Sheeraz if the latter beats “Bronco.”
The IBF has but to declare a brand new necessary after Andrei Mikhailovich fell quick, so theoretically the timing could be good for Alimkhanuly and Sheeraz to satisfy in the midst of subsequent 12 months. Fingers crossed.
