Hamzah Sheeraz Says Stars Are Aligning For World Title

Sheeraz says the moment is finally right for a world-title breakthrough while Begic promises to spoil the rise Saturday night

Hamzah Sheeraz believes the timing is finally right for him to become a world champion, but Alem Begic says Saturday night in Egypt will belong to him instead. The unbeaten super middleweights meet for the vacant WBO title on the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven undercard at the Pyramids of Giza.

“This is what dreams are made of. [Hoping] to win my first world title fight on Saturday night with the help of Andy Lee, my team, and everyone involved,” said Sheeraz during Thursday’s final press conference. “Yeah, man, let’s make history.

“It’s timing. I feel like the stars are aligning. It’s meant to be my moment. Everything we’re doing in the gym, we’re keeping it simple. It’s working as well. I just have to listen to him, use my imagination, and just crack on, man.”

The fight will be Sheeraz’s chance to win a world title in his first major bout since moving up to super middleweight. The 6-foot-3 British fighter has repeatedly said he feels stronger and healthier at 168 after struggling to make the middleweight limit earlier in his career.

Begic acknowledged the attention surrounding Sheeraz heading into the fight, but made it clear he is not traveling to Egypt just to play the opponent role.

“When it comes to Hamzah, he’s a world-class talent and a world-class boxer and the future of boxing,” said Begic. “Believe it or not, love him or hate him, he will be world champion one day. But from my side on Saturday, it will be my moment to shine because I worked so hard this year to get this moment, to get this opportunity to be here.

“I never could imagine to perform on this stage here to be in this beautiful place in this card to be with these fighters.”

A win for Sheeraz would immediately place him into the middle of the major fights at super middleweight tied to names like Christian Mbilli and Canelo Alvarez. Begic, meanwhile, has the chance to completely disrupt those plans if he pulls off the upset Saturday night in Egypt.

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