Queensberry Wins Purse Bid for Sheeraz

Doubts over whether Hamzah Sheeraz would actually see Janibek Alimkhanuly across the ring have eased, at least a little. Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions has won the WBO super middleweight title purse bid, nudging the fight from rumour towards reality.

Queensberry secured the rights with a bid just over $1 million, edging out Top Rank’s offer of $820,000, according to ESPN. It’s a significant statement, not just of intent but of belief in Sheeraz as a genuine headliner on either side of the Atlantic.

Warren moved quickly once the numbers fell his way. He is targeting London or Birmingham as potential hosts in England, with New York also firmly in the frame. Two dates are on the table: November 28 or December 5.

The venues, the date, the exact shape of the undercard – all of that still needs locking in. But the key step has been taken. The promotional battle is over.

Now the focus turns to the fighters, and whether Sheeraz can turn this hard-won opportunity into the defining night of his career.