Performance and breakout victory of the weekend was by Ilford, London’s Hamzah Sheeraz on a stacked Queensberry promotion at the Copper Box Arena, Stratford, London.
The tall middleweight (160lbs/11st, 6lbs) impressively stopped Wales’ former title contender Liam Williams for the WBC silver and Commonwealth titles inside one round after an initial knockdown. The finish came with a good right uppercut off an impressive lead left jab and sustained array of punches, resulting in Williams’ trainer Gary Lockett throwing the towel in to protect his fighter. A good and compassionate call in our view.
Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KOs), at 24 years old, and ranked #10 by The Ring magazine is homing in on a world title challenge successfully defending his silver strap. Having prepared himself Stateside at the famous Ten Goose Gym, he was all business and not overawed by the experience of his opponent being his first serious test.
The 31 year old Williams drops his record to 25-5-1 (20 KOs). The Welshman who’s fought for a number of years in good company has never been beaten so convincingly and is likely to operate at domestic level from herein.
The card also saw world top ten ranked light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde convincingly stop Serb’ Marko Nikolic after a minute of the third round. Yarde rated #4 by The Ring in their 175 lbs (12st, 7lbs) category has failed honourably in two previous ‘world’ title shots but now is well placed for a third crack at either Russian Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.
The two Russians are due to meet in Saudi Arabia on June 1st in a big unification clash. First up though is likely a domestic shoot out with London rival Joshua Buatsi who is also top ten ranked and coming hot off a victory against Dan Azeez last weekend. In doing so, he gained the British and Commonwealth titles en-route to a potential world title shot.
Last, but not least; Maidstone, England’s lightweight prospect Sam Noakes (13-0, 13 KOs) won the British and Commonwealth 135lbs (9st, 9lbs) titles by stopping Lewis Sylvester in four rounds.
In a packed Las Vegas weekend due to Super Bowl 58 in town, further victories were had by Teofimo Lopez in defence of his WBO 140 lbs (10st) ‘world’ title and, up and coming lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis. Lopez laboured to a unanimous points victory, but Davis impressively stopped former two-weight ‘world’ title winner Jose Pedraza in the sixth round.
As we’ve said on these pages Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Davis is one for the future, without doubt. He shows the full charisma and skills package to be a major addition to the elite of world boxing. Watch this space.
The Undisputed 