In a highly anticipated middleweight clash, Pakistani-oorigin British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz emerged victorious over Austin Williams of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 1 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The bout was part of the “Queensberry vs Matchroom: 5vs5” event.

The scheduled 12-round contest did not go the full distance, as Sheeraz claimed the win via TKO in the 11th round. The 25-year-old native of Slough, England, retained his WBC ‘Silver’ belt and secured the final WBC 160-pound world title eliminator.

Sheeraz, who now boasts an impressive record of 20-0 with 16 knockouts, was able to break down the muscular and young Austin Williams through a well-executed game plan. In the 10th round, Sheeraz landed a right hook that dropped Williams, and the referee decided to stop the fight 45 seconds into the 11th round to prevent further punishment.

“I knew what I was going into,” Sheeraz said in the post-fight interview. “He’s a puncher, he’s fresh, he’s young. So in the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t going to be a wipe-out victory. I had to slow him down, and the right hook was the key to my success.”

The loss was the first of Houston-based Austin Williams’ professional career, as he now stands at 16-1 with 11 KOs.

Sheeraz’s victory not only maintains his undefeated record but also puts him one step closer to a world title shot. “If I’m not ready now [for a world title], I don’t think I’ll ever be,” Sheeraz said. “Only by the will of Allah, I’ll win that. Inshallah.”

The impressive performance by Hamzah Sheeraz has further cemented his status as a rising star in the middleweight division, and boxing fans eagerly await his next challenge on the path to a world title.