Home / Sports / Sheeraz Vacates WBO Title Amidst Purse Dispute
Sheeraz Vacates WBO Title Amidst Purse Dispute
19 Sep
Summary
- Hamzah Sheeraz relinquished his WBO super middleweight title on Friday.
- The decision came after a mandatory fight purse bid failed to satisfy Sheeraz.
- He may explore promotional deals with Zuffa Boxing after his current contract.
British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz has relinquished his WBO super middleweight championship. This action was taken on Friday, September 19, 2026, as he officially withdrew from his ordered fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly. The WBO had mandated this bout in August, but negotiations between the fighters failed to reach an agreement, leading to purse bids.
Queensberry Promotions secured the winning bid with $1,001,809, which would have allocated Sheeraz $751,356.75. However, this purse was insufficient to proceed with the fight. As a result, the WBO might now order Alimkhanuly to face the next highest-ranked contender, Diego Pacheco. Pacheco is reportedly considering a fight on November 14, which could make him unavailable.
Sheeraz, who has recently earned significant purses on major boxing shows, expressed dissatisfaction with the offer to face Alimkhanuly. Having won his title via a second-round knockout and last fighting in July, Sheeraz has one fight remaining on his Queensberry contract. He has indicated interest in exploring promotional avenues with Zuffa Boxing, signaling potential future career moves upon becoming a free agent.
