"The WBO acknowledges and respects the decision of Hamzah"
Hamzah Sheeraz withdrew from a proposed boxing match with Janibek Alimkhanuly and relinquished his WBO super-middleweight title.
The WBO confirmed the decision after Sheeraz was mandated to face Alimkhanuly, the organisation’s number one contender.
A purse bid was held on September 17 to determine the promotional rights for the bout, with Sheeraz’s promoters Queensberry winning with a bid of $1,001,809 (£747,903).
Top Rank were the only other bidders, offering $850,000 (£634,569) for the fight.
Queensberry had planned to stage the fight on either November 28 or December 5, with London, Birmingham and New York proposed as potential locations.
But the WBO later confirmed that Sheeraz had withdrawn from the mandatory bout.
On X, WBO President Gustavo Olivieri wrote: “The WBO confirms that Queensberry Promotions has formally notified in writing that Hamzah Sheeraz, per the terms resulting from the purse bid proceedings concerning his mandatory obligation against Janibek Alimkhanuly, has elected not to proceed with the mandatory and has voluntarily relinquished his WBO super-middleweight world championship.
“The WBO acknowledges and respects the decision of Hamzah and his team.
“The WBO doors will always remain open to him, and we sincerely wish Hamzah and his team all the very best and continued success moving forward.
“The WBO World Championship Committee will render the applicable ruling on Monday, September 21, regarding the status of the WBO super-middleweight world championship and the division moving forward.”
Alimkhanuly’s manager, Egis Klimas, had previously claimed that Hamzah Sheeraz had withdrawn from the bout.
He posted on X: “Ha, I was right, if you scared yesterday, you scared today and you will be scared tomorrow.
“Couple things you can’t train in boxing, chin and scariness. Been informed Hamzah Sheeraz has vacated WBO title. What a shame!”
Hamzah Sheeraz’s professional record stands at 24 wins and one draw.
He won the WBO super-middleweight title in May 2026, defeating Alem Begic.
Sheeraz successfully defended the title against Simon Zachenhuber in July before being ordered to face Alimkhanuly.
Alimkhanuly’s position as mandatory challenger has been controversial following his previous doping suspension.
In December 2025, shortly before a planned defence of his WBO and IBF middleweight titles, the 33-year-old tested positive for meldonium.
The WBO suspended Alimkhanuly for a year in February but allowed him to retain its title, while the IBF stripped him of its championship.
In July, the WBO terminated Alimkhanuly’s suspension early and installed him as the mandatory challenger for Sheeraz’s super-middleweight title.
Sheeraz criticised the decision during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show in August:
“I think it’s a joke. I think what the WBO has done here is disgraceful to the sport of boxing as well.”
