Hamzah Sheeraz is absolutely fuming, and honestly, you cannot blame him. The WBO super middleweight champion just went on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Uncrowned and dropped a truth bomb, blasting the WBO’s latest move as “disgraceful to the sport of boxing” and a “joke.” This isn’t just about one fighter being annoyed; it’s about the integrity of the sport itself.
The WBO’s Wild U-Turn Rewards Doping
What’s got Sheeraz so heated? Get this: the WBO recently ordered him to defend his title against Janibek Alimkhanuly, the ex-unified middleweight king. Sounds routine, right? Except just last December, Alimkhanuly tested positive for a banned substance and got hit with a one-year ban from that very same sanctioning body! Now, only nine months later, while Alimkhanuly is *still serving his ban*, the WBO declares him the mandatory challenger for Sheeraz’s title. You gotta be kidding me. Sheeraz is right; it makes zero sense. He pointed out the WBO is “essentially doing is rewarding someone who has [tested positive], so to me, it doesn’t make sense.” And not just rewarding him, but doing it “while he’s banned.” It just stinks for boxing fans, and it just can’t be good for the sport. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of head-scratcher either; Ryan Garcia was announced to challenge Rolando “Rolly” Romero for a WBA title in 2025 while still serving his ban for ostarine. It feels like a pattern, and it’s frustrating.
Free Agency Looms and Zuffa Boxing Calls
It’s clear Sheeraz is disillusioned with how some of these sanctioning bodies operate, and that might be a big factor as he stares down free agency. He’s got one fight left on his current deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry, his career-long promoter. After that, it’s open season for him to find “what’s best for my career.” He’s not ruling out staying with Queensberry, saying they’ve had “a great relationship,” but he’s also looking to “explore my options and see what else is out there.” A big option on the table is Zuffa Boxing. Sheeraz is already an ambassador for Riyadh Season and has a good relationship with Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi Arabian fight financier who’s funded Sheeraz’s past six Queensberry bouts. Considering Saudi Arabia’s Sela co-owns Zuffa Boxing with TKO Group, it’s no surprise Sheeraz confirmed Zuffa is “definitely an avenue I’ll explore.” He even said if and when he becomes a free agent, Zuffa is “definitely an option.”
So, Sheeraz has one fight left on his contract, and then he’s going to explore all his options. With the WBO pulling stunts like this, you have to wonder if it pushes him closer to making a big move. What a mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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