2 hrs ago
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When it comes to a fight against Hamzah Sheeraz, Janibek Alimkhanuly and his team have made their stance clear.
“If Hamzah will have the balls to take this fight, it can bring the 'Best Fight of the Year,'" Alimkhanuly's manager Egis Klimas wrote on X.
“It's a huge and big fight for boxing fans. We are in and ready, Hamzah are you ready? Let's bring some fun for our Fans!”
On Wednesday, Queensberry Promotions submitted a winning purse bid of $1,001,809 for the mandated bout between Sheeraz, the WBO super middleweight champion, and Alimkhanuly, the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger. Top Rank bid $850,000.
Two proposed dates are November 28 and December 5, while London and New York are potential locations.
However, while Team Alimkhanuly is ready, willing, and able to accept all terms, Sheeraz is still figuring things out.
"Brother if it was a 'huge fight,' Top Rank or yourself would have put up big numbers," Sheeraz replied to Klimas on X. "You're a smart man, you already know this. But no need to worry."
Klimas hit back again, writing: "Brother, it’s not always about big numbers, as you know we [are] even on the 25% side. But of course it’s for you to make decisions on your own career. Good luck!"
Sheeraz, The Ring’s No. 9-ranked super middleweight, has never been a fan of Alimkhanuly's sudden status as a mandatory challenger. The former IBF and WBO middleweight champion was handed a backdated one-year ban after failing a VADA drug test in the lead-up to his unification bout against WBA champion Erislandy Lara in December.
In July, after Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) announced that he was moving up in weight, the WBO revealed that he was now Sheeraz’s mandatory challenger. They also announced that Alimkhanuly’s suspension was cut short due to him “fulfilling all of the necessary requirements.”
Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KOs) recently told The Ring he would be willing to fight Alimkhanuly as long as he received a significant payday.
That, however, won’t be happening. Sheeraz is entitled to 75% of Queensberry’s bid, totaling just $751,357. Alimkhanuly would take the remaining 25%, coming in at $250,452.
In his last appearance, Sheeraz didn’t look like his explosive self. The 27-year-old grabbed a lackluster majority decision win over Simon Zachenhuber on July 25, two months after winning the title in a second-round KO over Alem Begic.
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