Hamzah Sheeraz made a big splash in his super-middleweight debut, knocking out Edgar Berlanga in the fifth round at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York on Saturday. The win puts Sheeraz on a path that could lead to a showdown with undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.
Sheeraz's performance was particularly impressive when compared to Canelo's recent fight against Berlanga. While Canelo won by unanimous decision in September, Sheeraz managed to stop Berlanga decisively. This knockout victory proves that the 168-pound division is a good fit for Sheeraz and sends a strong message to the rest of the weight class.
The win comes after Sheeraz's draw with WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames. It looks like he's learned from that experience and improved his skills.
"Sheeraz is more than ready for a fight with Canelo," analyst Teddy Atlas told Boxing News. "Fighters can grow with experience. Sheeraz learned from the Adames fight and will learn more from the Berlanga fight."
While Sheeraz's future looks bright, Canelo has his hands full with an upcoming fight against Terence Crawford. The undisputed super-middleweight title defense is set for September in Las Vegas. Atlas thinks Canelo will have a tough time against Crawford.
Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh has hinted at a potential Sheeraz vs Canelo fight in 2026. If Sheeraz keeps winning and improving, that matchup could become a reality.
Sheeraz's knockout of Berlanga has certainly turned heads in the boxing world. It'll be interesting to see how he builds on this win and if he can keep the momentum going towards a possible clash with Canelo in the future.
