Hamzah Sheeraz defeated Germany’s Simon Zachenhuber on the undercard of an Anthony Joshua bout held in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The 12-round matchup proved competitive, ultimately decided by the judges who returned scores of 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 in favor of the Londoner, though the decision drew audible disapproval from the crowd.
Sheeraz, the reigning WBO super-middleweight champion following a second-round stoppage victory against Alem Begic in Egypt, acknowledged a mixed performance. He indicated his readiness for stronger opposition and stated plans to observe Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s scheduled challenge for Christian Mbilli’s WBC belt on October 31. Despite winning, Sheeraz noted moments when he lacked focus during the contest.
Josh Kelly, competing in an IBF light-middleweight title bout against Ireland’s Caoimhin Agyarko, won by unanimous decision with judges scoring 115-112, 115-112, and 114-113. The bout was marked by a significant injury when both fighters collided in the 11th round, leaving Kelly with a severe facial gash. Kelly recovered from the injury to secure the victory despite the damage sustained.
Agyarko expressed disappointment with the judges’ decision, believing he had earned the win. He articulated ambitions to become the first Black Irish world champion. Kelly, meanwhile, expressed interest in pursuing a contest against unified 154-pound champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents both fighters, indicated that a matchup between Kelly and Ennis in the United States represents a viable option for a significant three-belt unification bout.
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