Hamzah Sheeraz’s first shot at a world boxing title ended in a controversial split-decision draw against Carlos Adames in Saudi Arabia. Sheeraz struggled to find his rhythm, while Adames displayed more effective work with a greater volume of punches.
Despite this, the three judges scored the fight 118-110 for Adames, 115-114 for Sheeraz, and 114-114, leaving the WBC middleweight champion to retain his title but feeling robbed of a clear win.
Visibly frustrated at the final bell, Sheeraz, 25, admitted his performance fell short. With swelling under his right eye, he looked deflated, and even his corner expressed disappointment in his reluctance to throw more punches.
After the boxing fight, Sheeraz reflected, “No excuses. I’ve got a hand injury, but that didn’t change the outcome.” His record now stands at 21 wins and one draw, though many felt he was lucky to escape with his unbeaten status intact.
Entering the ring first as the challenger, Sheeraz maintained a focused stare during introductions. Adames, confident and dismissive of Sheeraz’s previous opponents, was unaffected by the crowd’s jeers.
The early rounds were cautious, with Adames working to target the taller Sheeraz’s body. Trainer Ricky Funez encouraged Sheeraz, saying, “You’re going to become world boxing champion tonight,” but the Briton’s hesitancy continued to hold him back.
By the middle rounds, Adames began to take control, landing significant punches, including a powerful overhand right in the eighth round that visibly shook Sheeraz. Promoter Frank Warren, frustrated, was seen yelling at Sheeraz to use his uppercut by the ninth round.
Sheeraz’s best moment came in the 11th round with a strong right hand, but it wasn’t enough to change the fight’s momentum. By the final round, his corner told him he needed a knockout to win. Adames finished the fight with confidence, leaving the result to the judges.
While waiting for the scorecards, Sheeraz appeared to signal to promoter Frank Warren that he had a hand issue. Earlier in the week, Sheeraz had expressed his dream of becoming a three-weight world champion and challenging Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but after this performance, those goals seem distant.
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