Hamzah Sheeraz-Janibek Alimkhanuly Title Fight Heads to WBO Purse Bid

The WBO has ordered a purse bid for Hamzah Sheeraz’s super-middleweight title defence against Janibek Alimkhanuly after Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank failed to reach an agreement during the negotiation period.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed that the purse bid will take place this Wednesday, September 16, at 2pm AST at the sanctioning body’s headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Please be advised that the WBO has received official confirmation from Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank that the parties have been unable to reach an agreement within the prescribed negotiation period,” Olivieri said on X.

“Accordingly, the WBO World Championship Committee will order purse bid proceedings, scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (AST), at the WBO Main Offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.”

Sheeraz won the vacant WBO title by stopping Alem Begic in May and made his first defence with a majority decision over Simon Zachenhuber on July 25 in Saudi Arabia.

He revealed afterwards that he had injured his hand early in the Zachenhuber fight.

“I had picked up a little injury during the fight,” Sheeraz told Ariel Helwani. “I didn’t make it a thing after because I didn’t want to. Just getting on with it, now we’re recovering. I think it was in the second or third round.

“I hit him in a funny place, right at the top of his head, and felt it straight away. But from the positives, I got through 12 rounds with a little injury, back onto bigger and better things hopefully. We’re on the road to recovery as we speak now. I think I’ll be active end of November, early December.”

The purse bid does not necessarily mean Sheeraz will face Alimkhanuly. The champion has already questioned whether he wants to continue with the WBO belt after the sanctioning body installed the former unified middleweight champion as his mandatory challenger.

Sheeraz objects to Alimkhanuly mandatory

Sheeraz’s objection centres on Alimkhanuly’s anti-doping case.

A planned middleweight unification with Erislandy Lara was cancelled after meldonium was detected in samples submitted to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. The IBF subsequently stripped Alimkhanuly, while the WBO later confirmed that his suspension had been terminated effective July 10 after he complied with conditions imposed by the organisation.

The WBO also rejected Jacob Bank’s request to be installed as mandatory challenger at super-middleweight and instead recognised Alimkhanuly’s claim after his reinstatement, taking into account his status as WBO middleweight champion.

Sheeraz criticised that decision in his interview with Helwani.

“I think it’s a joke. I think what the WBO have done here is disgraceful to the sport of boxing. What they’re essentially doing is rewarding someone who has [tested positive], so to me, it doesn’t make sense.

“On top of all of that, not just rewarding him for being popped, but [doing so] while he’s banned, while he’s still serving a ban. It does not make sense. … I just think it’s bad for the sport of boxing, giving these guys the platforms and almost saying, ‘Yeah, don’t worry, it’s OK. We’ll just crack on as normal and act like nothing’s happened.’”

Sheeraz also said his team had struggled to get clarity from the WBO after he won the title.

“Ever since I won the title, we have tried to sit down with them and my team has reached out, but we have got nothing back,” he said.

Asked whether he could vacate rather than face Alimkhanuly, Sheeraz said the possibility would have to be discussed with his team.

“That [vacating the title] is something that I will have to discuss with my team. What they have done, it pushes you into that corner of me eventually thinking like that and, if I was to do that, it would be totally justifiable.

“I keep banging on about morals and that is what it is down to. It is down to being a clean athlete, being someone who stands for clean athletes and one who is true to that and represents that.”

Sheeraz also raised the possibility of pursuing a unification if the WBO were prepared to allow it, although he acknowledged he was unsure whether that would take priority over the mandatory.

“I think that [a unification fight] overrides it but I could be wrong, but that is another option,” he said.

The purse bid comes with Sheeraz approaching the end of his promotional agreement with Queensberry. He told Helwani that he has one fight remaining on the deal.

“I’ve got one fight left with [Queensberry],” he said. “We’ve had a great relationship, and we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what the options are.”

Sheeraz said Zuffa Boxing would be among the options he considers if he becomes a free agent.

“[Zuffa Boxing is] definitely an avenue I’ll explore. I can’t say that I’ll 100% go with them because, like I said, I’m still in contract with Queensberry and I could still end up being with them. If and when I am [a free agent], [Zuffa is] definitely an option I’ll explore.”

The next step comes this Wednesday, when the WBO will hold the purse bid for promotional control of Sheeraz-Alimkhanuly.