Hamzah Sheeraz lived as much as the lofty expectations put forth by his Corridor of Fame promoter.
The 6’3″ middleweight was chosen as Queensberry Promotions’ staff captain versus the Matchroom Boxing steady within the celebrated 5-vs-5 match. His standing meant double the pleasure on the scoreboard. Sheeraz stopped Austin Wlliams within the eleventh spherical Saturday night at Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Williams was dropped late within the tenth spherical and rocked early within the eleventh. Referee Mark Lyson stepped in to halt the competition at 0:45 of the eleventh spherical.
The battle of unbeaten middleweights was fought on even turns by means of 4 rounds. Williams was keen to place Matchroom on the board and rocked Sheeraz with a left hand early within the second spherical.
Sheeraz (20-0, 16 knockouts) stays a piece in progress on the defensive entrance, evident by bruising beneath each eyes. The Ring’s No. 7-rated middleweight adjusted halfway by means of the struggle and by no means seemed again. His overwhelming offense was additionally sufficient to beat that flaw.
Williams’ proper eye started to swell shut from the regular stream of lengthy left jabs from Sheeraz. The American’s mouth was additionally bloodied and his look drew concern from famous head coach Kevin Cunningham. He loved spurts of success all through the struggle, however usually fizzled over the course of every spherical.
The start of the tip got here in direction of the shut of spherical ten. Williams was dropped by a Sheeraz proper hook within the bout’s lone knockdown however was in a position to make it his toes and out of the spherical.
Sheeraz closed the present in fashion moments later.
Williams (16-1, 11 KOs), No. 10 at 160, tried to proper the ship at first of the eleventh. Sheeraz defused that momentum in a rush. A four-punch combo left Williams out on his toes as he staggered to a nook. Lyson acknowledged Williams’ lack of ability to defend himself and stopped the competition.
Sheeraz is now the WBC obligatory challenger and shall be an observer for the subsequent title struggle. Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs), No. 2 at 160 by The Ring, defends the belt versus Terrell Gausha (24-3-1, 12 KOs) on June 15 in Las Vegas.
Jake Donovan is a senior author for The Ring and vice chairman of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.