Hamzah Sheeraz Strengthens with Andy Lee: Seeks to Conquer America

When your promoter, and possibly the most powerful man in boxing, gives you instructions shouting from your corner during a fight, you know things aren’t going well. Hamzah Sheeraz, considered the next big British star and one of the crown jewels of the boxing promoter, faced Carlos Adames in February. Sheeraz was expected to overcome Adames and win the WBC middleweight title. However, as the fight progressed, it became clear that Sheeraz was struggling. So much so, that Frank Warren and Turki Alalshikh were shouting instructions near the end of the fight.

I ran to the corner and said: ‘Listen, if you don’t win these next three rounds, you’ve lost’

Warren

The fight ended in a draw, with no belt or highlight moment. Subsequently, it was revealed that Sheeraz suffered a hand fracture and had serious difficulties making the 160-pound weight before the fight. Regardless of this, significant changes occurred. The first step was a timely move up to the super middleweight category, where he will face Edgar Berlanga in New York this week. He also changed teams, moving to Ireland to train with Andy Lee, possibly the best at present. Whether the draw with Adames was a wake-up call or just a bad night, Sheeraz returns this weekend with the intention of making a statement, proving that he is still the next big British star and making himself known in the United States.

“You couldn’t ask for a better fight to present to the American fans, you know?” said Sheeraz before the Ring III event at Louis Armstrong Stadium. “You couldn’t ask for a better fight and someone who talks a lot and says a lot of nonsense. That also attracts a lot more attention to the fight. So, all I have to do is go in there, perform, and that makes my job easier.” Before the fight with Adames, Sheeraz had passed all tests with flying colors and had a streak of 15 knockouts. His talent is evident. The connection with Lee aims to take him to the next level, as well as a change of scenery. The 26-year-old boxer claims that moving to Dublin, very different from his previous base in Los Angeles, has been “incredible”.

It’s been brilliant, it’s been refreshing, refreshing because I was in Los Angeles for about four or five years and things started to get very repetitive. Once things start to get repetitive, you can fall into bad habits and bad rhythms, and yes, the change of scenery and Dublin itself, it’s been incredible.

Sheeraz

Normally, when you go with new coaches, some things feel forced, certain conversations feel forced. He’s a very, very, very confident man because, you know what he’s done, he’s been there and he’s done it.

Sheeraz

Lee’s history as a coach, as well as his success as a world champion boxer, speaks for itself. He has revitalized the career of heavyweight Joseph Parker and, more recently, partnered with Ben Whittaker after his first fight against Liam Cameron ended in a controversial draw. After a few weeks working with Lee, Whittaker won the rematch with a technical knockout in the second round. Like Whittaker, Sheeraz found himself at a moment when he needed to change things, and Berlanga will be an excellent test in his return.

You discover things about yourself that you need to change or need to calm down or need to improve to be a true contender at a global level. So, hopefully, when [the fight] arrives, I will give the performance of my career and I will be able to look back at that fight as a blessing in disguise.

Sheeraz

Warren will want a less hectic night for himself, but he knows how big the challenge will be in New York. He’s gotten right into it. It’s a tough fight. He’s with Berlanga, who thinks a lot of himself. He’s a dominant type of fighter, [Sheeraz] is in his backyard. He has to come out, be the boss and put him in his place, and I think he can do it.