Sheeraz to Fight for Vacant WBC Super-Middleweight Title After Crawford Stripping
A surprising turn of events in the boxing world has opened the door for Briton Hamzah Sheeraz to compete for a world title. The 26-year-old fighter will challenge Canada’s Christian Mbilli for the vacant WBC super-middleweight championship after Terence Crawford was stripped of the belt.
The WBC’s decision to remove Crawford as champion stems from a dispute over sanctioning fees. According to a statement from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, the American fighter failed to meet financial obligations related to the title. This follows Crawford’s historic win over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in September, where he moved up three weight classes to become the undisputed champion.
Sheeraz, hailing from Slough, England, will enter the bout with an unblemished record of 23 victories. This will be his second attempt at a world title, and his first in the super-middleweight division. His previous world title opportunity came in February, resulting in a draw against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames – a performance described as underwhelming over the course of 12 rounds.
Mbilli, 30, also boasts an undefeated record, with 29 wins and one draw. He last fought in September, while Sheeraz made his super-middleweight debut in July, securing a knockout victory over Edgar Berlanga in five rounds.
Despite losing the WBC title, Crawford remains the reigning champion in other organizations, holding the WBA ‘Super’, WBO, and IBF super-middleweight belts. However, his next move remains uncertain.
A date for the Sheeraz-Mbilli contest has not yet been confirmed, but the boxing world eagerly awaits further details. This matchup presents a significant opportunity for both fighters to claim the coveted WBC title and establish themselves as a force in the super-middleweight division.
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