Hamzah Sheeraz denies Canelo is ‘finished’ after Terence Crawford loss as he eyes fight with Mexican icon
Hamzah Sheeraz has hit back at claims that Canelo Alvarez is finished following his loss to Terence Crawford in September, which resulted in him forfeiting his undisputed super middleweight titles.
The British contender hailed Alvarez as a Hall of Famer as he approaches the back end of his long and illustrious career – and still has his eyes on a potential fight with the Mexican great.
“He’s in the Hall of Fame for me. He’s done everything he needed to in boxing,” Sheeraz told The Ring. “And what boxing fans are so easy to do is not write someone off, but as soon as they have a bad performance, or as soon as he’s coming to the end of his career, they’re like ‘Oh, that’s it, that’s it.’
“Maybe he’s coming to the end of his career, but what a career he’s had. I won’t mind coming to the end of my career after having a career like he has.
“As a boxing fan and as someone who could potentially face him, the only thing I can do here is really appreciate what he’s done for the sport.”
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Sheeraz will be looking for a return fight sooner rather than later after his destruction of former Alvarez rival, Edgar Berlanga, in July. With Canelo not set to return until the spring of 2026 and his next move uncertain, Sheeraz is targeting a run at a world title, and he doesn’t mind who against.
“Whatever name they put in front of me, I’m going to sign,” Sheeraz explained. “Whether that be [Christian] Mbilli, whether that be [Diego] Pacheco, whether that be whatever names are out there, I’ll sign it.
“The ideal situation would be here. I’m assuming Crawford is going to vacate. If the belts become vacant, I’ll fight anyone for them belts to become world champion.
“That would be an ideal situation. If he doesn’t vacate, then maybe get the opportunity to fight him, or earn the opportunity to fight him.”
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Mbilli currently holds the WBC interim title, and Sheeraz is the number one-ranked contender with the sanctioning body, leaving them on a collision course if Crawford decides to vacate.
Pacheco is a young, undefeated contender who Sheeraz was briefly rumoured to face next. But Pacheco is now set to face fellow unbeaten star Kevin Sadjo in December instead.
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