Hamzah Sheeraz Vacates WBO Belt, Declines Janibek Alimkhanuly Mandatory Defense

Hamzah Sheeraz has voluntarily relinquished his WBO super middleweight world championship rather than face mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly.

Hamzah Sheeraz has vacated his WBO super middleweight title, opting against a mandatory defense against Janibek Alimkhanuly. The WBO confirmed on Friday that Queensberry Promotions formally notified the organization in writing of Sheeraz's decision to relinquish the belt. This move follows a purse bid won by Queensberry with a total of just over $1 million, surpassing the $820,000 offered by Alimkhanuly’s promoter, Top Rank.

The proposed bout had been slated for either Nov. 28 or Dec. 5, with London, Birmingham, and New York listed as potential host cities. The WBO originally ordered the title defense last month, despite Alimkhanuly not competing since April 2025. The 33-year-old challenger (17-0, 12 KOs) previously held the IBF and WBO middleweight titles but was sidelined by a positive test for meldonium.

Alimkhanuly received a one-year ban in February, which the WBO terminated effective July 10. While he denied any wrongdoing regarding the drug test, the governing body had designated him as the official mandatory challenger for Sheeraz's championship prior to the British fighter's withdrawal from the contest.