Could Hamzah Sheeraz bypass Canelo Alvarez dream bout for super middleweight title opportunity?

The former WBC middleweight title challenger stepped up a class earlier this year, and put the division on notice as he dismantled the Mexican's former foe inside five rounds.

Since then, Sheeraz has kept the fire burning for a shot at Canelo himself, but the latter's undisputed loss to Crawford in September has now reshaped the division's landscape.

Now, with plenty of question marks over where both prospective rivals stand, the Slough fighter has decisions to make on just what his pathway forward will be at this weight.

So just how could Sheeraz take up a bout with Crawford over Canelo and move himself into the box seat for a string of major titles simultaneously? DAZN News explains things.

Mandatory status suits challenger

Sheeraz's victory over Berlanga didn't just upset expectations - it seemingly thrust the victorious Briton into the heart of the title fight too with WBC mandatory challenger status.

Of course, these things are never straightforward in boxing, and with Christian Mbilli the current interim belt holder, there may need to be a stepping stone fight to reach the top.

But if Sheeraz is indeed in the box seat to secure a strap, you would expect the star would be keen to proceed straight to the attempt, setting up a possible Crawford showdown.

Incumbent champion faces future questions

In vaulting up several divisions to dethrone Canelo, Crawford has truly established himself as a modern pound-for-pound great, ranked with Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Uysk.

But whether he returns back down the weight classes remains to be seen. If he chooses to remain at this level, there's no shortage of top-tier challengers who will want a shot.

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Ultimately, Sheeraz could prove to be the most fascinating for the star, if perhaps not the most lucrative - and that would offer a further argument for the Briton to pursue a bout.

Pride for place with reckless stakes

If Canelo was previously target number one, the loss of his undisputed title is not exactly a crushing blow to his reputation as one of the finest boxers of the post-century era.

His three losses came against generational greats, and any opponent who steps up to face him will do so in the knowledge he is still a dangerous fighter with plenty to give.

But for Sheeraz, the only thing a Canelo fight offers now beyond money is pride - and a defeat to the Mexican would weaken his own credentials. The risk may not be worth it.

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