NEW YORK — Hamzah Sheeraz doesn't feel any additional pressure to perform impressively Saturday night based on how he fought four months ago.

He realizes he provided plenty of fuel for detractors by escaping from his bout against Carlos Adames without the first loss on his professional record. WBC middleweight champion Adames seemed to do more than enough to beat Sheeraz, but it was scored a split draw Feb. 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

One judge, Barry Linderman, somehow scored 10 rounds for Sheeraz, who won 118-110 on his scorecard. Guido Cavalleri scored Adames a 115-114 winner and Omar Mintun Sr. scored 114-114.

Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) is one of boxing's best middleweights, ranked No. 2 in The Ring's top 10, and undoubtedly was the best of Sheeraz's opponents. Sheeraz injured his right hand early in their fight as well, which limited his offensive output.

Sheeraz's subpar performance still convinced him that he couldn't continue shrinking his 6-foot-3 frame down to the middleweight limit of 160 pounds.

The ambitious Brit clearly could've chosen an easier fight for his super middleweight debut, but the Ilford resident sees his Edgar Berlanga showdown as a career-changing opportunity.

Turki Alalshikh has mentioned Sheeraz as a potential opponent for the division's undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez if he wins Saturday. Sheeraz, however, senses all of the pressure is on Brooklyn's Berlanga to perform in his hometown.

The 12-round bout between Berlanga, 28, and Sheeraz, 26, will headline "Ring III," a DAZN Pay-Per-View show at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. Its scheduled to start at 5 p.m. ET in the United States ($59.99) and 10 BST in the United Kingdom (£24.99).

"The performance from the last fight is not added pressure," Sheeraz told a group of reporters following his open workout Wednesday at Hard Rock Café New York in Times Square. "It's less pressure, if anything, because people have seen me at my worst now [against Adames]. I can only bounce back, be stronger from that and I've got quite a big opportunity to do so."

The brash Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) is one of the division's hardest punchers. Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) feels fresher and stronger than usual during this fight week because he hasn't had to physically deplete himself to get down to 160 pounds by Friday.

"I'm thriving," said Sheeraz, who began his career as a junior middleweight seven years ago. "I'm feeling good, feeling energetic. This is the most kind of talkative and happy I've ever been [a few days] from a fight night."

Sheeraz doesn't just want to join Mexico's Alvarez as the only opponents who have beaten Berlanga. The tall, hard-hitting contender also wants to become the first fighter to stop him inside the distance.

"I've gotta knock him the [expletive] out," Sheeraz said. "No doubt."

Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) dropped Berlanga early in the third round of their bout. Berlanga recovered and went all 12 rounds with The Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 168-pound champion Sept. 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Sheeraz (minus-135) is a slight favorite over Berlanga (plus-110).