In a performance that resonated across the boxing world, British middleweight turned super-middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz delivered a brutal, statement-making knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga in New York. The dominant fifth-round stoppage has ignited conversations about Sheeraz`s readiness for the absolute pinnacle of the division: undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.
The victory was particularly significant given Sheeraz`s recent outing – a controversial draw against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames five months prior, a fight many observers felt he should have lost. Promotor Frank Warren attributed that lackluster performance to difficulties making the 160lb middleweight limit. The move up to 168lbs for the Berlanga clash clearly paid dividends, showcasing the potent power Sheeraz possesses without the strain of extreme weight cutting.
Berlanga, himself a formidable puncher who had previously taken the reigning king Canelo the full twelve rounds, proved no match for Sheeraz`s onslaught. Sheeraz dropped the American twice in the fourth round before sealing the fate of the fight moments into the fifth. It was a clinical and devastating display of offensive power.
Following the fight, Frank Warren was unequivocal in his assessment. Having witnessed Sheeraz amass 17 knockouts in his 22 professional victories (including the draw), Warren lauded him as a true “knockout artist.” In a comparison that carries significant weight, Warren likened Sheeraz to a “British Tommy Hearns” – a reference to the legendary “Hitman,” known for his devastating punching power across multiple weight classes.
While Sheeraz stands slightly taller than the Detroit icon at 6ft 3ins, the comparison focuses on the shared propensity for ending fights dramatically. Hearns conquered divisions from welterweight to light-heavyweight. Sheeraz is now aiming for his first major world title at super-middleweight, and the Berlanga win secured him the mandatory challenger position for the WBC title, currently held by Canelo Alvarez.
The prospect of Sheeraz challenging Canelo is now very real, potentially as early as 2026, a timeframe echoed by boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. When pressed on whether Sheeraz is genuinely prepared for such a significant step up against a modern great like Canelo, Warren was emphatically positive.
Warren pointed to Sheeraz`s “good grounding,” recent experience including a mandatory challenger position fight (albeit controversial), and notably, his performance in Berlanga`s own backyard against a recognized puncher. Sheeraz entered the fight potentially perceived as an underdog by some, yet he delivered a “devastating” and decisive performance that left no room for doubt.
The message from the Sheeraz camp is clear: the move to super-middleweight has unlocked his full potential, and he is now ready to test himself against the very best the division has to offer. The comparison to Tommy Hearns, while a weighty one, underscores the belief that Sheeraz possesses the rare, fight-ending power required to compete at the elite level. Whether he can replicate even a fraction of Hearns` legendary multi-division success remains to be seen, but the performance against Berlanga has certainly made the boxing world take notice and has pushed the Canelo fight from theoretical discussion into the realm of tangible possibility.
