Hamzah Sheeraz faces Liam Williams on Saturday 10th February at 10PM (UK), Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, UK
Preview
Youth challenges experience this weekend in east London, as Hamzah Sheeraz looks to extend the unbeaten start to his career against a durable and game Liam Williams. Sheeraz is looking to move through the levels in the 160-pound division and will be targetting Williams as a gate-keeper to bigger fights in the weight class. The WBC silver middleweight and Commonwealth titles will be on the line on Saturday night inside the Copper Box, accompanied by an undercard featuring Sam Noakes vs Lewis Sylvester and Anthony Yarde’s return to the ring.
Hamzah Sheeraz (18-0, 14KO)
Hamzah Sheeraz is quickly developing into one of the jewels in Queensbury Boxing’s crown. The 24-year-old has blasted his way to an 18-0 record in seven years as a pro, and is now knocking on the door of some of the biggest fights in the division. You could argue that you can only count on one hand the better placed middleweights in world boxing than Sheeraz at this precise moment – with Britons Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr included – and a win over the experienced and top 10-15 ranked Williams will only further this argument. Sheeraz is on a 12-fight knockout run and has stopped three of his last four opponents in the second round. Something similar against Williams would be a real statement of intent.
Liam Williams (25-4-1, 20KO)
Liam Williams has been there and done it all in the middleweight division, and
yet somehow he is only 31… The former British champion and world title challenger at 160-pounds has mixed it with some of the very best in the division, coming up short against the likes of Liam Smith, Demetrius Andrade and Chris Eubank Jr., but will still feel he has a couple of big performances left in his tank. Despite winning his last two fights – against unknowns Florin Cardos and Nizar Trimech – he has taken two losses in his last four and has tasted the canvas five times in these outings. He has shown his durability in hearing the final bell in both of these fights, but Team Williams will be wary of how much time is left on his body clock.
Current Odds via BetFred
BetFred agree with the narrative of this fight that Sheeraz is the man in the ascendancy and Williams is on a career down-slope. Sheeraz opens as a 1/5 FAV, with Williams a sizeable 7/2 underdog. Despite being stopped just once in his career, due to a cut, the bookies don’t envisage Williams being to fend off the attacks of Sheeraz for 36 minutes. Sheeraz sits at 4/7 in the Method of Victory betting to record the 15th stoppage of his career, and is a much larger 10/3 to win on the scorecards. 20 of Williams’ 25 career wins have come via stoppage and there is no doubt that the Welshman can bang. He’s 11/2 to cause an upset via stoppage and a massive 14/1 to take it on the scorecards.
Tip 1
Hamzah Sheeraz to win by KO, TKO or Disqualification at 4/7 with BetFred – Sheeraz has the ability to swarm an opponent with his precise attacks, and Williams’ recent history suggests he may be losing his famed durability.
Tip 2
Hamzah Sheeraz to win in Round 11 at 16/1 with BetFred – We’re not expecting this one to go early. Sheeraz should be able to wear down the Welshman and close the show late on.
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