Hamzah Sheeraz managed to cling onto a slim points victory on Saturday, a night that also saw Josh Kelly battle through a nasty nasal cut to claim a unanimous decision on the Anthony Joshua versus Kristian Prenga undercard in Saudi Arabia. The London-born contender, who previously captured his inaugural world title by stopping Alem Begic in the second round to claim the vacant WBO super‑middleweight championship in Egypt, faced Germany's Simon Zachenhuber in a 12‑round showdown. The bout concluded amid a chorus of boos from the crowd, but the official judges’ scorecards read 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 in Sheeraz's favour. After the decision, Sheeraz celebrated in the ring alongside Jacob Bank, flashing a confident smile.
"I am a champion in this division. I'm sure people are champing at the bit after my performance," Sheeraz declared, his eyes already fixed on the future.
He added that he plans to sit ringside on October 31 to watch Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC belt, indicating that the Mexican superstar's upcoming fight is a benchmark for his own ambitions. "I got the win, that's all that matters. I could make a million excuses, but I’ll be better in the next fight.
I need a step‑up now, someone who will mentally present a challenge. I was switching off at times, I was too comfortable when I didn't have a threat in front of me," Sheeraz said, acknowledging that the narrow margin exposed areas for improvement.
His remarks suggest that he is eager to test himself against higher‑ranked opposition, perhaps even a future clash with a top‑tier fighter like Canelo Alvarez, whose power and ring IQ set a standard across the sport. Meanwhile, in the same event, British boxer Josh Kelly overcame a dramatic and unsettling injury—a deep gash across his nose—while securing a unanimous points win over Irish challenger Caoimhin Agyarko in an IBF Light‑Middleweight title bout. The fight, held under the bright lights of the Saudi arena, turned particularly violent in the 11th round when the two combatants’ heads collided, leaving Kelly's face bloodied and his nose visibly split.
Despite the gruesome sight, Kelly maintained composure and did enough to earn the judges’ scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113. Nicknamed "Pretty Boy," Kelly addressed the crowd after the bout, emphasizing the learning aspect of the experience. "I told Caoimhin, don't take it as a loss, take it as a learning. If he wants it bad enough, he will bounce back," he said.
Agyarko, on his side, expressed disappointment but remained resolute: "I thought I won it, but if it's not good enough for the judges, I accept that. I'm heartbroken, I wanted to make history. Josh Kelly is a class act, but I think he underestimated me a bit, there.
Listen, it will come. I will be the first Black Irish world champion, there's no doubt about that." Following his victory, Kelly voiced a clear target: a showdown with unified 154‑pound champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who manages both Kelly and Ennis, confirmed that a fight in the United States is now a realistic possibility.
"He's had a defence of the title and before that mandatory comes again, really you want to be looking at those big money fights and trying to roll the dice," Hearn explained. He added, "I think that comes with 'Boots' Ennis.
If I'm Josh Kelly I'm looking at the big payday out in America against 'Boots' Ennis. It's a three‑belt unification fight. [WBC champion] Sebastian Fundora, all those guys." The night also featured other notable moments, such as the ongoing saga of Anthony Joshua, who posted a tribute to friends lost in a tragic crash, and the continued promotion of the Toe2Toe podcast, which delivers weekly boxing analysis.
Fans were reminded of the best boxing highlights and videos available across platforms, reinforcing the sport's growing digital presence. Looking ahead, the schedule includes a marquee double‑header on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event: Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas, both live from New York on Sunday at 10 p.m.
Viewers can also stream boxing and a variety of other sports without a contract through the NOW service, offering flexible access to premium content. Overall, Saturday's undercard delivered drama, resilience, and a glimpse of future match‑ups that could shape the landscape of the super‑middleweight and light‑middleweight divisions. Sheeraz's narrow win underscores the fine margins at the elite level and his hunger for a bigger test, while Kelly's perseverance through injury highlights the warrior spirit that defines boxing.
Both fighters have signaled their next steps, setting the stage for potential high‑stakes bouts that fans will be eager to follow as the year progresses.