Hamzah Sheeraz managed to edge out a narrow points victory, while Josh Kelly battled through a gruesome nose cut to claim a unanimous decision on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua versus Kristian Prenga event in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The London‑born Sheeraz, who previously captured his first world title with a second‑round stoppage of Alem Begic to win 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, and the judges' scorecards read 114‑114, 115‑113 and 116‑112 in favor of Sheeraz. After the decision, the champion posed for photos with Jacob Bank inside the ring, flashing a confident smile.
"I am a champion in this division. I'm sure people are chomping at the bit after my performance," Sheeraz declared, his voice brimming with determination. He added that he will be sitting ringside on October 31 to watch Saul "Canelo" Álvarez challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC belt, a fight he says has ignited 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 present a mental challenge.
I was switching off at times, too comfortable when I didn’t have a real threat in front of me." Sheeraz’s comments underscore his hunger for higher‑profile opposition and hint at a possible future clash with the Mexican superstar. The super‑middleweight champion believes that a bout against Canelo would not only test his skills but also elevate his standing on the global stage. In the same evening’s action, British fighter Josh Kelly overcame a frightening gash to his nose to secure a unanimous decision against Irish contender Caoimhin Agyarko in an IBF light‑middleweight title bout.
Kelly, known by the nickname "Pretty Boy," suffered a head clash in the 11th round that left his face heavily bloodied, yet he persisted and earned the judges' scores of 115‑112, 115‑112 and 114‑113. "I told Caoimhin, don’t take it as a loss, take it as a learning experience.
If he wants it bad enough, he will bounce back," Kelly said post‑fight. Agyarko, visibly disappointed, responded, "I thought I won it, but if it’s not good enough for the judges, I accept that. I’m heart‑broken; I wanted to make history. Josh Kelly is a class act, but I think he underestimated me a bit.
Listen, it will come. I will be the first Black Irish world champion, there’s no doubt about that." Kelly, buoyed by his victory, expressed a desire to challenge unified 154‑pound champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who manages both Kelly and Ennis, confirmed that a showdown in the United States is now a realistic possibility. "He’s had a defence of the title and before that mandatory comes again. You really want to be looking at those big‑money fights and trying to roll the dice," Hearn explained.
"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 would be a three‑belt unification fight, with the WBC champion Sebastian Fundora also in the mix." The evening also featured other notable moments: a tribute from Joshua to friends lost in a tragic crash, and a reminder to tune into the Toe2Toe podcast for weekly boxing analysis.
Fans were invited to watch Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 p.m. on Sunday, with the option to stream boxing and other sports contract‑free via NOW. Overall, the night highlighted the resilience and ambition of two rising stars. Sheeraz, despite a contentious decision, displayed the poise of a champion eager for the next big challenge, while Kelly proved his grit by fighting through injury and setting his sights on a lucrative unification bout.
Both fighters have positioned themselves for higher stakes, and the boxing world will be watching closely as they pursue their next objectives, whether that means a potential showdown with Canelo Álvarez or a blockbuster clash with Jaron Ennis in the United States.