Boxing
Will Zachenhuber win prove Canelo wake-up call for Sheeraz?
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Two months ago, the sky appeared to be the limit for Hamzah Sheeraz, freshly minted as WBOÂ super-middleweight champion.
On the back of his brutal victory over Edgar Berlanga last year, the Briton's dismissal of Alem Begic had underlined his power.
Sheeraz stood tall in Giza this past May, arguably the headline on a night where Oleksandr Usyk nearly toppled from his perch.
Heading into a low-key first defence against Simon Zachenhuber this past Saturday in Jeddah, he was expected to thrive again.
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Instead, on the opposite side of the Red Sea, Sheeraz departed with perhaps a few more questions than answers in his victory.
Now, as the star angles for a blockbuster bout with Canelo Alvarez, the question lingers - will this result be a wake-up call for him?
What happened in Sheeraz's win?
Having brushed aside Begic inside two rounds, Sheeraz touched down in Saudi Arabia with his stock arguably at a career high.
In the opposite corner sat Zachenhuber, a top-ten ranked opponent whose nevertheless suffered an April loss to Pawel August.
Eyebrows were raised over the notion that the German would provide a sturdy test, given Sheeraz's last pair of top performances.
Ultimately though, that is what transpired. Zachenhuber rarely matched his foe's skills, but nor did the latter find his upper gears.
Sheeraz took victory by majority decision in the end, with one judge scoring the bout a draw - victorious, but less emphatic to boot.
What did Sheeraz say about it?
Speaking afterwards, the Briton acknowledged that his critics would have words for him - but stressed he still got the job done.
"I'm sure people are chomping at the bit," he stated in the ring. "I got the win, that's all that matters. I could make a million excuses.
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"I'll be better in the next fight. I need a step up now, someone who will mentally present a challenge. I was switching off at times."
Sheeraz's self-awareness will please his team and trainer Andy Lee - but at the same time, his admission may give some pause.
As a champion, the star will hope to only tangle with top opposition here on out. But he will not - and can not -Â let his level drop now.
Will result be a wake-up for Sheeraz?
Fans who cast their mind back to Sheeraz's WBC middleweight draw with Carlos Adames last year may remember the criticism then.
The star responded with his career-best turn against Berlanga - and perhaps the hope is that this performance can do the same too.
If Sheeraz is serious about pursuing Canelo - due to challenge Christian M'billi for the WBC crown in October - he must knuckle down.
The Mexican legend may not be as fearsome as he once was, but he nevertheless remains an aspirational ideal and a critical target.
Sheeraz cannot likely afford to coast on lower wattage if he both wants the star, and then to beat him too. Now, he must turn up the heat.
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