Hamzah Sheeraz shocked the boxing world with a stunning fifth-round knockout of Edgar Berlanga in New York.
The Briton not only silenced those who doubted him after his previous draw, but also inevitably drew comparisons with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who beat Berlanga last year by unanimous decision, failing to finish the fight before the limit.
Promoter Frank Warren, who has backed Sheeraz since the start of his career, was blunt after the fight:
If Sheeraz could knock out Berlanga and Canelo couldn’t, then he has to have a chance against him
The comment, far from being provocative, reflects a growing perception in the boxing world that the gap between Canelo‘s past dominance and the emergence of a new generation seems to be narrowing.
Sheeraz issues warning to Canelo Alvarez
At 26 years of age, Sheeraz has put his name at the top of the super middleweight conversation. “If I get to fight Canelo, I’m not going to look to beat him on points. I’m going to stand in the center of the ring and trade punches,” he said after his victory.
His words were backed up by a key figure on the current scene, Turki Alalshikh, who wrote: “Hamzah now deserves Canelo in 2026,” publicly endorsing an eventual showdown.
When will Canelo Alvarez and Hamzah Sheeraz fight?
However, Canelo Alvarez has other immediate plans. His next fight will be on September 13 against Terence Crawford, as part of his four-fight deal under the Riyadh Season organization, among which a fight with Sheeraz is a very unlikely option.
In addition, due to his age (34 years old) and his intentions to retire between 37 and 38 years old, Canelo could prioritize fights that consolidate his legacy over emerging challenges such as Sheeraz
Certainly, Hamzah Sheeraz‘s emphatic performance against Edgar Berlanga has reshaped the super middleweight landscape and put pressure on Canelo Alvarez, not only as a dominant figure in boxing, but as a generational benchmark.
Although there are still clear differences in experience and track record, the Briton’s rise inevitably raises the question of whether Sheeraz will be the Mexican boxer’s successor at the top.
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