Frank Warren believes that Hamzah Sheeraz is ready to take on the winner of the upcoming mega fight between undisputed and Ring Magazine super middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford, after his stunning 5th-round stoppage of Edgar Berlanga last weekend.

Amid a tumultuous atmosphere at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) dropped Berlanga three times to announce himself as a major threat at 168lbs.

Last September, Canelo dominated a gritty, resilient Berlanga but had to settle for a wide 12-round unanimous decision despite dropping him after three rounds.

Berlanga took more risks against Sheeraz but the 26-year-old British fighter was smart enough to quickly recognise any openings and heavy handed enough in capitalising on them.

The fight was broadcast globally on DAZN and, as auditions go, it couldn't have gone any better. It now looks like Sheeraz will land a starring role opposite one of boxing's leading men in the not-too-distant future.

Immediately after the fight, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, took to X and declared that "Hamzah now deserves Canelo in 2026".

Warren has been Sheeraz's biggest advocate since the very early stages of his career and has patiently guided him into position.

Now, the Hall of Fame promoter is content to let Canelo and Crawford handle their business at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on September 13th, safe in the knowledge that his man is in pole position for a fight with the winner.

"We've gotta wait for him [Canelo]. He's fighting in September on that show in the States in Vegas. It's gonna be a great fight between him and Crawford and he [Sheeraz] is ready to fight the winner," Warren told The Ring.

"That's what we want to do. We could have fought Canelo 18 months ago, we were offered the fight and I wouldn't take it because I don't think he was ready for it."

The fight with Berlanga was Sheeraz's first foray into the super middleweight division.

In February, he looked surprisingly flat during his 12-round split draw with underrated WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames, and immediately made the decision to listen to his body by moving up an extra eight pounds.

Earlier in his career, Sheeraz would somehow squeeze his broad, 6ft 3in frame into the junior middleweight division but stepped up to 160lbs after a lacklustre showing against Bradley Skeete in December 2021.

The move revitalised him and he went on a tear of seven consecutive stoppage victories before stuttering against Adames in the Saudi capital.

It looks like history has repeated itself. Sheeraz looked reenergised and dangerous at 168lbs and can now concentrate on improving as a fighter, rather than battling the scales.

Warren doesn't believe that Sheeraz needs any more fights to get used to his new surroundings - the Queensberry chief believes he's ready for the best right now.

"No, I think he's there to go," Warren said. "If he could have made the weight against Adames, I think he could have won that fight so he'd have been a world champion. What are you going to do? You don't shy away from opportunities when they come along like that."