Boxing
If money decides, Hamzah Sheeraz will run Canelo’s race
If Canelo wants to keep his risk profile at a manageable level while cashing the biggest check possible, Hamzah Sheeraz is the perfect option for September.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has made it clear that he wants the biggest names on the biggest stages. Assuming Sheeraz defeats Al Begić on May 23 to win the vacant WBO super middleweight title, he will enter the discussion with the belt, an undefeated record and the appeal of a fresh event.
Style can also matter. Mbilli is an aggressive, high-performance fighter who makes his opponents work in every round. At this point in Canelo’s career, that may look less appealing than against a taller opponent like Sheeraz, who has shown weakness in previous fights.
Mbilli will force Canelo into a cardio-intensive, high-damage war. At 35 years senior, Canelo has little incentive to take such a hefty punishment for a fight that will likely produce fewer PPV buys than the British-backed Sheeraz event.
Sheeraz was pushed difficult by Carlos Adames in a fight that many thought could have gone the other way, and Austin Williams rocked him badly before he recovered.
Other names look weaker. Jaime Munguia has already been beaten by Canelo, making the second fight hard to justify as a premium attraction unless he can mount a gigantic rebound. Jose Armando Resendiz doesn’t have the profile to headline a September event of this magnitude.
The unsafe path could be IBF champion Osleys Iglesias, a younger puncher viewed by many as one of the toughest threats at 168 pounds. For this reason, it seems the least likely option.
Fighting Iglesias is an antiquated move, but it has its negative sides. There’s a reason he’s the least likely option. He has the power to knock out even the most hard-wearing of veterans, but he doesn’t have the fans around the world yet to justify the risk for Canelo.
A fight against newly crowned British champion Sheeraz in Saudi Arabia is an easier sell to the global public than a grueling mandatory defense against the breathtaking Frenchman Mbilli.
Carlos Adames said he can beat anyone at middleweight and super middleweight, but the statement was met with immediate backlash from newly crowned IBF super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias. After Adames announced he was ready to fight, the undefeated Cuban responded on social media, calling for the fight to go ahead.
The exchange began when Carlos Adames stated that no one at 160 or 168 pounds could beat him. The fan quickly challenged him to fight Iglesias, one of the most hazardous names in the super middleweight division.
“Who are you? What I do in the ring confirms what I say here. Whenever you want, I’m ready to prove it to you,” Adames said in X.
That was met with a direct response from Iglesias (15-0, 14 KO), who is coming off an eighth-round victory over Pavel Silyagin and gained traction at 168 pounds after winning the IBF title.
“Enough talking. Let’s get on the same page and take the fight to the next level. I’m waiting for your call. My team is ready. I’m waiting for you,” said Osleys Iglesias.
Adames holds the middleweight title while Iglesias is one division above, so any fight would require one side to advance. This alone makes it more sedate than a routine online argument.
This exchange with Iglesias bears all the hallmarks of a potential bluff by Adames. Iglesias is now viewed by many as the 168-pound boss who stopped Pavel Silyagin in the eighth round just two weeks ago.
He’s a powerful southpaw with a 93% knockout rate, which isn’t usually the type of guy a champion fights unless he’s 100% sedate or looking for a huge payday.
Fans will soon find out if this was Adames’ social media stunt if he starts demanding a catchweight fight with Iglesias or tells him to drop down to 160 pounds. If he tells IBF 168-pound champion Iglesias to back off, he will simply be looking for a way out. It will be a foregone conclusion if he stays on X and does not lead to official negotiations between Adames’ promoters at PBC and Iglesias’ team.
The southpaw Iglesias is essentially a airy heavyweight who can reach 168 pounds and would also have significant height and an advantage over Adames. If Adames is sedate, he’s taking one of the toughest routes possible to make a super middleweight debut.
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Last updated: 23/04/2026 at 10:29
While talking about failed drug tests in boxing, host Simon Jordan cited an earlier estimate by panelist Spencer Oliver, who suggested the number could be as high as 70 percent. Hamed immediately disputed this statement.
“That’s a tough statement,” Hamed told talksport Boxing when the number was repeated during the episode.
“The same applies to me personally. Don’t take it personally. It’s like destroying the players, 70% of them,” Hamed said.
It was vintage “Naz” stuff, seeing him come out waving to players like that. He has always been devoted to the craft and clearly sees the 70% result as a slap in the face to the guys who live neat and do grueling work.
Oliver responded that this was his opinion based on repeated failed tests and suspicions surrounding the sport, not evidence against specific names. Hamed was not convinced and said that charges should only be brought when the militant was actually caught.
“You can’t accuse any single person unless he or she has been caught,” Hamed said.
Hamed’s point about “destroying” warriors is the most compelling part of his argument. When someone like Spencer Oliver comes up with a huge number, like 70%, it creates a lasting cloud of suspicion.
This means that even if a player delivers a legendary, career-defining performance, the first thing some fans will do is look for a reason to discredit him. For a legend like Hamed, this is an insult to the discipline required in this sport.
Hamed is the guy who shows me the bills. By insisting that no one can be charged until they are caught, he seeks to maintain some level of due process. In his eyes, if you have failed the VADA or UKAD exam, you are a pure athlete. Period.
What’s captivating is that Hamed doesn’t take it lightly. While supporting strict accountability policies, he says people should not be labeled as fraudsters without evidence. If the test comes back positive, you own it, regardless of tainted meat or supplement excuses.
This is an truthful position. He wants to protect the reputation of good actors in sports while making sure the hammer continues to fall on anyone caught breaking the rules.
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