HAMZAH Sheeraz can take a significant leap towards a world title opportunity later this year if he were to add to his coruscating KO ratio at London’s Copper Box this weekend. 

Sheeraz makes the first defence of his Commonwealth middleweight belt on Saturday against former world title contender Liam Williams. 

Unbeaten in 18 fights, the 24-year-old from Slough is being tipped as a future world champion after utilising his six-three frame to deliver 14 largely showstopping knockouts so far. 

But, make no mistake, Welshman Williams represents a pivotal step up in class.  

THE MACHINE 

The man from the Valleys was a Commonwealth champion himself back in 2014 following a first round KO of his own. At the time, Sheeraz had just blown the candles off his 15^th birthday cake. 

Two stints as British champion followed, albeit along with back-to-back defeats to ex-world champion Liam Smith. 

A run of seven straight knockouts at middleweight landed Williams his world title shot in 2021. But he was dropped early before losing on points to Demetrius Andrade in Florida. 

The following year, he returned to Cardiff for a domestic blockbuster with Chris Eubank Jr. But was on the deck in three of the first four rounds and capitulated to a lopsided points defeat. 

At 31, Williams isn’t old by any means and has two rapid KO wins of his own banked since his unhappy homecoming. But is he the threat he once was? 

STEPPING STONE? 

Sheeraz, who trains out of Los Angeles with trainer Ricky Funez, has been vocal about fights with Smith and Eubank, but understands the importance of mastering Williams first. 

Underestimating the Welshman, like he did Bradley Skeete, could spell disaster. 

Sheeraz unexpectedly found himself on the end of a boxing lesson in 2021 and was behind on the scorecards before dropping Skeete in the eighth round. 

Controversy followed as a punch that landed long after Skeete was on the canvas prompted a point deduction. 

Skeete, who was stopped in the following round, insists Sheeraz should have been disqualified. An opinion shared by many at ringside. 

Rightly or wrongly, Sheeraz’s power got him out of jail that night.  

BURNING QUESTIONS 

Williams, if allowed, has the power and capacity to hurt anybody at 160lb. And a similarly lacklustre start from Sheeraz would be incentive enough to spring him into life. 

However, the champ has stopped all four opponents since the Skeete debacle, three inside two rounds, and isn’t negligent enough to give an inch to the wily challenger. 

Williams showed plenty of heart against Eubank Jr, getting back up repeatedly to hear the bell. But determination not to be stopped and aspirations to actually win are very different things. 

A loss to upcoming Sheeraz would end Williams’ chances of ever fighting for a world title again. Is that incentive enough for him to turn back the clock? 

Or is Sheeraz getting Williams at the perfect time, when he’s looking to cash out with the biggest pay-day fights before hanging up the gloves? 

The opening two rounds will tell us everything we need to know. 

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NICK’S TIP

One of Britain’s most exciting fighters is in action as Sheeraz – on a 12-fight KO streak – takes on the dangerous and durable Liam Williams in what should be an explosive domestic dust-up. My tip?

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