Hamzah Sheeraz managed to cling onto a slim points victory on Saturday, while fellow British boxer Josh Kelly fought through a gruesome nose cut to claim a unanimous decision on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua versus Kristian Prenga event in Saudi Arabia. The London-born Sheeraz, who previously captured his inaugural world title with a second‑round stoppage of Alem Begic to claim the vacant WBO super‑middleweight belt 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 three judges rendered scores of 114‑114, 115‑113 and 116‑112 in favour of Sheeraz.
After the decision, the champion posed with Jacob Bank in the ring, flashing a smile that hinted at confidence despite the mixed reaction. "I am a champion in this division. I know people are chomping at the bit after my performance," Sheeraz declared in the post‑fight interview. He added that he will be ringside on October 31 to watch Saul "Canelo" Alvarez challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC belt, a fight he says will be a major milestone for the sport.
"I got the win, that's all that matters. I could make a million excuses, but I’ll be better in my 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," he explained, acknowledging that the narrow margin exposed areas for improvement.
In a separate bout, Josh Kelly endured a frightening gash to his nose yet still secured a unanimous decision over Irish contender Caoimhin Agyarko in an IBF light‑middleweight title fight, also staged in Saudi Arabia. The fight was dramatic, especially in the 11th round when the two boxers accidentally clashed heads, leaving Kelly with a blood‑stained face. Despite the visible injury, the judges scored the contest 115‑112, 115‑112 and 114‑113 for Kelly, awarding him the victory. Kelly, nicknamed "Pretty Boy," addressed the aftermath with composure.
"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," he said. 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 there. Listen, it will come.
I will be the first Black Irish world champion, there’s no doubt about that." Looking ahead, Kelly expressed his ambition to test himself against unified 154‑pound champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who manages both Kelly and Ennis, indicated 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, really you want to be looking at those big‑money fights and trying to roll the dice," Hearn said.
"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 and others on the horizon." The night also featured other notable moments. In a related storyline, Anthony Joshua posted a tribute to friends who tragically lost their lives in a crash, underscoring the personal challenges athletes often face outside the ring. Meanwhile, the popular Toe2Toe podcast continued to deliver weekly boxing analysis, and fans were reminded to tune in for the best boxing highlights and videos across platforms.
For viewers eager to catch more action, the upcoming matchups of Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas will be broadcast live from New York on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event at 10 p.m. on Sunday. The events are also available for contract‑free streaming via NOW, offering boxing enthusiasts a convenient way to stay connected to the sport’s latest developments.
Overall, the evening in Saudi Arabia showcased the resilience and ambition of rising stars like Sheeraz and Kelly. Both fighters demonstrated that even narrow victories can serve as stepping stones toward greater challenges, whether that means eyeing a future bout with a legend like Canelo Alvarez or pursuing a high‑stakes unification clash with a champion such as Jaron Ennis.
Their performances, set against a backdrop of passionate fans and international intrigue, highlight the global nature of modern boxing and the endless narratives that keep the sport compelling for audiences worldwide.