Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz Predictions: A new middleweight king to be crowned?

WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames defends his title against Hamzah Sheeraz this Saturday, February 22. The bout takes place on the mammoth The Last Crescendo card at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Sky Sports Box Office, TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN PPV will all televise the event.

Here are my Adames vs Sheeraz predictions ahead of this middleweight showdown.

Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz Odds

Adames might be the reigning champion but he’s a considerable underdog at 9/4. Sheeraz is expected to take the title home at odds of 4/11. If the can’t be separated, the draw is up at 16/1.

Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz Fight Preview

Sheeraz is unbeaten in six years, when a knockdown suffered in the seventh round turned what was almost a draw into a majority decision loss against Patrick Teixeira. The Dominican has not looked back, racking up six wins since with four by way of knockout.

The interim WBC strap he picked up with a third-round knockout of Juan Macias Montiel was later upgraded and Adames successfully retained it last time out. The 30-year-old outpointed Terrell Gausha to hold onto his world title in June, winning a wide unanimous decision.

Middleweight is a fractured division and Adames has a decent claim. Janibek Alimkhanuly is widely viewed as the best, ranked first by The Ring and in possession of the WBO and IBF straps. The great survivor, Erislandy Lara is your WBA kingpin at the age of 41. Interestingly, there is one man whose ranking with The Ring sits among the champions despite his lack of title belt.

Sheeraz is ranked second by ‘The Bible of Boxing’, below Alimkhanuly but above Adames and Lara. A run of knockouts that stretches over six years certainly helps. The fact that top fighters like Liam Williams, Austin Williams and Tyler Denny are among those stopped during that period certainly doesn’t hurt either. 

That talented trio comprise Sheeraz’s three most recent scalps. The Austin Williams win in particular marked out Sheeraz as a potential world star. ‘Ammo’ was the most-feared man in the division at the time and the Brit stopped him in 11 rounds. From that point on, a world title fight has felt less like a possibility and more like destiny.

The middleweight division is a special one for British fight fans. Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank waged the first of their wars for the WBO 160lb title, with the former also holding the WBC belt at the weight. Darren Barker and Billy Joe Saunders are among the modern names to have worn straps at middleweight, while the likes of Alan Minter, Terry Downes and Randy Turpin ruled here in days gone by.

Sheeraz can re-establish Britain’s reputation in the famous division with a win here. Adames is a quality champion and such a mission will not be easy. But the 25-year-old has been in incredible form. The way Sheeraz is fighting, very few could live with him. The fact the name “Canelo” is already being whispered around him says it all. Lofty talk and of no use with such a tough fight ahead, but one does wonder…

Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz Full Card

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Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz Prediction

I think Sheeraz takes his mission all the way on Saturday. The knockouts that have thrilled fans as he has risen through the ranks look set to continue I believe. I think Sheeraz takes the title via stoppage against Adames.

Adames is gifted and has only lost once, in incredibly close circumstances. But I just don’t think Sheeraz can lose. The confidence in his work, the maturity and that irresistible power are all too much. Sheeraz by knockout at 6/5.

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