Hamzah Sheeraz is ready to fight. It’s two weeks out from his first world championship bout, and the Middleweight boxer is relaxing in his compound in Dubai with his shirt off, snacking on pineapple after a training session.
In some ways, this moment completely captures who Hamzah Sheeraz is; someone who is ready to anything that he needs to – even something brutal – while making it look effortless.
“I just want to be fighting right now,” he says, his voice calm but laced with intent. “When it’s so far away, it’s like, ‘Oh, world champion—I’d love to be a world champion.’ But for the last year and a half, I’ve conducted myself like one. I’ve behaved like one. I’ve trained like one. Now, it’s just about cementing it.”
For those unfamiliar, Hamzah Sheeraz is an undefeated British-Pakistani boxer with a perfect record of 21 fights and zero losses; 17 of those wins have come via knockout.
He’s currently tearing through the Middleweight ranks, racking up the WBO European, Commonwealth, European and WBC Silver titles in the process. But that’s not all. Hamzah Sheeraz has won over the backing of one of boxing’s new era’s biggest backers: Saudi Arabia. He was recently made a Riyadh Season Ambassador – representing the values of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to the world.
Balancing international titles with his own cultural identity, Sheeraz has become a fighter without borders, redefining what it means to be a “world” champion.
“If anything, it feels right because I’ve always said that I wanted to represent not just South Asians – but humanity. And that’s really the biggest kind of self-achievement,” he explains.
“If I can be a positive influence on just one person’s life – it doesn’t have to necessarily be a youngster, it could be anyone – then I’m a happy man. I’ve done my job.”
In many ways, he’s got the whole package. Young, good-looking and talented. Yet, all well-wrapped gifts have to have something inside of substance.
Sheeraz grew up in Ilford– an underprivileged and gritty area of East London. Amid the endless redbrick terraced houses and slate-grey streets, he refused to be boxed in. So, he boxed out.
“The streets, the gang life, and the party life never appealed to me,” he says. “There’s nothing wrong with living a nine-to-five life and then spending your money every Friday night by getting the biggest table in a club, or getting the most bottles – but for me, that’s not what I wanted. I wanted to dedicate my life to something.”
Sheeraz not only found solace in boxing, but it increasingly gave him a sense of direction.
He joined a local gym to train a few days a week. Those days turned into weeks, those weeks into years – all the while momentum gathered pace. “It was more just like turn up to the gym, do what you’re doing and just see where it gets you.”
He enjoyed it. It became a big part of who he was, and he found his people – making friends through boxing and travelling the world with them. “Before you know it, you’ve separated yourself from the only environment that you ever knew,” he says.
“Growing up, you only deem acceptable and successful what your environment teaches you. Because you don’t know anything else. You only know your limitations through who’s around you. It’s as simple as that.”
It would be admirable to find anyone with tunnel-vision and perseverance as their core principles. But, Sheeraz is built differently. For him, these qualities aren’t the root of his success; but rather a consequence of his faith.
“Islam teaches respect, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle – all qualities essential for success in boxing,” he says. “I’m blessed being born a Muslim and I don’t think – I know – it’s the number one factor for me being where I am now and where I can be in the future.”
It’s quite fitting therefore that Hamzah Sheeraz’s journey to becoming World Champion has landed him in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“Making history in an Islamic country makes it that much more special,” he reveals, “because you’re doing it on homeland, so to say, you know what I mean? Doing it where the prophets have walked the lands. It’s crazy when you think about it like that. To be doing it that way, I’m blessed.”
Sheeraz will be appearing on a card dubbed ‘The Last Crescendo‘ held in Riyadh on February 22, where he takes on WBC Middleweight champion Carlos Adames.
There is a real buzz among the boxing community with many enthusiasts is describing this event – fight for fight – as arguably the ‘greatest fight card of all time’. A loaded statement perhaps; but with seven title fights and an array of boxing superstars and fan-favorites from start to finish – it’s hard to disagree.
But Hamzah Sheeraz – being Hamzah Sheeraz – is predictably unfazed by the immensity of it all.
“It’s not new territory for me. The most important thing, for me as a fighter, is to focus on my fight. But, as a fan, I appreciate the card and the event. I appreciate the magnitude of what I’m actually part of, what I’m actually involved in. So it’s kind of two sides of the coin.”
Knowing exactly who he is on the inside, allows him to be creative on the outside; so when it comes to Fashion, Sheeraz is again intentional, but carefree.
You’ll often catch him in Castore, advertisements plastered in the brands’ flagship store in Dubai Mall – but you’re as likely to see him looking the part with a sharp fit paired with a nice watch at events.
“My fashion changes every year,” he explains, “I see what’s ‘in’ and what’s going on in the media and then I’ll put my own fits together.” Although he’s quick to point out that when it comes to his style, he isn’t really influenced by others, and prefers to “just do my own thing.”
He pauses before adding: “They say it’s not about what you wear, it’s about how you wear it.”
Sheeraz appreciates most of which goes part and parcel of big-time boxing; the roar of the crowds, the flashing cameras, the adoring fans. Yet, outside of boxing, he leads a very simple life. “I’m actually a very boring man,” he laughs. “When I do get my time off, I’m just resting, I might travel a bit, here and there, but there’s nothing exciting that I do.”
He attributes this to his dedication to continuing his career trajectory, and his commitment to training camps. “In camp I give everything at 500%. I give every bit of my mental, physical and spiritual well-being to it.”
At this watershed moment in his career, I ask Hamzah what his message is to people; right here, right now. In the future, when we look back; what does he want people to think when they picture Hamzah Sheeraz in 2025?
Without skipping a beat he says: “If you put your mind to something, anything, and keep knocking on that door, eventually it will open no matter what it is. It doesn’t have to be in sport, it could be anything. As long as you believe in yourself – push through with the dedication, hard work, perseverance and keep knocking on that door, I can almost guarantee you that door will eventually open – even when it’s most unexpected. Be ready to fight for it.”