Hamzah Sheeraz demonstrated his prowess at the Copper Box Arena in London, swiftly overpowering Liam Williams in just one round.
Though Williams has shown his mettle against formidable opponents like Liam Smith, Demetrius Andrade, and Chris Eubank Jr. at the world level, he has established himself as a formidable force in domestic competitions. By decisively defeating Williams, Sheeraz joins an elite group of fighters.
Originally scheduled for December, the fight was postponed due to Sheeraz’s perforated eardrum. Interestingly, the delay seemed to amplify interest in the matchup, with anticipation building throughout British boxing circles, especially as Williams exuded confidence during fight week activities.
Standing tall at 6 feet 3 inches, Sheeraz quickly shattered Williams’ confidence within a minute, flooring him heavily with a powerful jab—a scene reminiscent of Eubank Jr.’s knockdown of Williams in their February 2022 bout.
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Maintaining composure despite his early success, Sheeraz strategically selected his shots. Williams endured another knockdown from a right uppercut shortly thereafter, and although he rose again, he struggled to withstand Sheeraz’s onslaught. A well-placed left hook further destabilized Williams, prompting his trainer and friend Gary Lockett to throw in the towel.
After a buildup spanning months, the fight concluded after a mere 2 minutes and 36 seconds of the opening round.
This victory solidifies Sheeraz’s position within the top five of the WBO middleweight rankings. Prior to this bout, British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney held a position one spot above Sheeraz. If Heaney secures victory against Brad Pauls in Birmingham on March 16th, it may pave the way for a significant outdoor event in Stoke this summer.
