Frank Warren criticises Hamzah Sheeraz for vacating WBO belt rather than face Janibek Alimkhanuly
Queensberry promoter Frank Warren says Hamzah Sheeraz was wrongly advised to vacate his WBO belt instead of facing mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly, after Queensberry won the purse bid.
Queensberry boss Frank Warren has voiced strong disappointment after Hamzah Sheeraz vacated his WBO world title rather than proceed with a mandated defence against Janibek Alimkhanuly. Warren, speaking to IFL TV, criticised the advice Sheeraz has been given and questioned the rationale for surrendering the belt after Queensberry won the purse bid to stage the fight. The dispute follows a complex sequence of decisions by sanctioning bodies around Alimkhanulyâs positive test for meldonium and subsequent disciplinary actions. Boxing News reports that, with Sheerazâs relinquishment, the WBO has ordered Alimkhanuly to meet Jacob Bank for the vacant strap.
Warren: 'Defend your belt' â he says Sheeraz has been poorly advised
Frank Warren told IFL TV he was ââvery disappointedââ that Sheeraz had vacated his title and suggested the 27-year-old had been badly advised. Warren questioned the rationale for giving up the belt, saying: "Vacating the belt based upon what? There is no reason; thereâs no rationale to that. Youâre a champion â defend your belt." He added that Sheeraz won the strap against an opponent he regarded as manageable and complained that those who worked to put Sheeraz into position had been let down. Warren also criticised the unnamed adviser he believes is guiding Sheeraz, saying of that person: "what he knows about boxing you could write on a pinhead." Boxing News reported these remarks.
How Alimkhanuly became the mandatory after a doping case
The dispute centres on Janibek Alimkhanulyâs status with the WBO. Boxing News reports Alimkhanuly became the WBOâs mandatory challenger at 168lbs despite testing positive for the prohibited substance meldonium in November. After that finding, the IBF stripped the Kazakh of his middleweight belt, while the WBO initially handed down a year-long suspension before terminating it in July and allowing the ââundefeated 33-year-oldââ to retain his world title. At one point, the WBO ordered Sheeraz to make a mandatory defence after Alimkhanuly opted to vacate his strap and move into the super-middleweight division.
Purse bid won by Queensberry â but Sheeraz still vacates; Alimkhanuly to face Jacob Bank
Boxing News says Queensberry Promotions won the purse bid to stage the ordered contest with a bid of just over $1 million, securing the rights to promote the fight and the expected 75/25 purse split that would have heavily favoured Sheeraz. Despite that, Sheeraz chose to relinquish the belt he had won in May via a second-round finish over Alem Begic. The report adds that Sheeraz is believed to have at least one fight remaining on his current promotional contract. With the title vacated, the WBO has ordered Janibek Alimkhanuly to meet fellow unbeaten contender Jacob Bank for the vacant world belt.