Hamza Shiraz (21-0, 17 KOs) will fight Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) for the WBC middleweight title in Saudi Arabia on February 22. Thus, the 25-year-old Shiraz decided to withdraw from the fight demanded by the WBO against IBF and WBO champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly.
Shiraz was rocked in the first round of his fight with Austin Williams on June 1 in Riyadh, and he was lucky the American couldn't finish the fight early. Shiraz's team chose Adames over Janibek for his next fight. In the middleweight division, Adames is currently considered the weakest among the champions. If Shiraz manages to become world champion, he can make good money fighting in the UK or Riyadh.
"I've been told that [Carlos] Adames vs Hamza Shiraz will take place in February 2025 in Saudi Arabia and the WBC middleweight title will be on the line. The announcement is expected very soon," ESPN reporter Salvador Rodriguez told X on ESPN.
