Hamzah Sheeraz: How a Giza Coronation Opens the Door to World Glory and Canelo

The newly released fight posters for Glory in Giza confirm a night of historic proportions on May 23. Headlined by Oleksandr Usyk defending the WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids, the card is a visual masterpiece. Yet scanning the artwork, one name jumps out as the potential show-stealer: Hamzah Sheeraz. Placed prominently alongside the WBO insignia, the towering Englishman faces Alem Begic for the vacant WBO super middleweight championship — an opportunity to become Britain’s newest world ruler and plant his flag firmly in the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes. Sheeraz, unbeaten in 23 fights (22-0-1, with only a technical draw), has been refreshingly direct about his ambitions. He still wants Canelo. The logic is straightforward: strap a world title around his waist, and he transforms into a highly marketable option should Canelo return seeking to reclaim old belts. The WBO title he would hold was once part of Alvarez’s undisputed collection, making a future unification — or simply a big-money defence — a promoter’s dream. The posters, emblazoned with “Ready to Fight” and DAZN’s exclusive broadcast branding, position Sheeraz as a cornerstone of the event. In Alem Begic, a 39-year-old Bosnian with limited world-level credentials, the pathway is clear. This isn’t a pick’em encounter; it’s a coronation stage designed for a devastating statement. A knockout under the ancient stones, with millions streaming on DAZN, would turn Sheeraz from a rising contender into a must-see world champion overnight. The undercard is stacked: Jack Catterall collides with Shakhram Giyasov, Frank Sanchez battles Richard Torrez Jr., and women’s flyweight champion Mizuki Hiruta puts her belts on the line against Mai Soliman. All are compelling, but none carry the same “Canelo magnet” potential. Standing 6’3” with an 84-inch reach and 18 knockouts, Sheeraz brings the physicality and menace that translate across markets. In the land of the pharaohs, an English star can build a kingdom with the biggest payday in the sport lurking just over the horizon. (Photo credit: Ring Magazine Facebook page)

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