Hamzah Sheeraz ordered to defend WBO title against Janibek Alimkhanuly

The WBO has ordered super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz to defend his title against mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly. Both camps have 20 days to reach an agreement before the fight proceeds to a purse bid.

Alimkhanuly has expressed interest in hosting the bout in New York to leverage the local Kazakh community. However, the matchup faces potential complications. Sheeraz’s promotional team, Queensberry, has several options to manage the risk, including requesting a WBO exception, offering Alimkhanuly step-aside money, or Sheeraz vacating the title to pursue more profitable voluntary matchups.

Separately, British boxer Callum Simpson has identified Sheeraz as a primary target for a potential stadium fight at Oakwell Stadium in the summer of 2027, provided Sheeraz retains his championship status.