Riyadh Season Undercard: Hamzah Sheeraz Steals The Show

As fans and celebrity guests poured into Wembley Stadium on Saturday, five undercard fights took place supporting Joshua vs Dubois.

There was only a single knockout win, but it was a spectacular exclamation point to the early action.

Hamzah Sheeraz Is The Real Middleweight Deal

Hamzah Sheeraz has announced himself to the middleweight division in 2024. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Following an upset victory in June as part of the 5vs5 team competition in Riyadh over American Austin Williams, Hamzah Sheeraz of Ilford (21-0, 17 KOs) drilled Tyler Denny of Birmingham (19-3-3, 1 KO) within seconds of the opening bell. Denny took a knee and managed to get into the second round before Sheeraz dropped him for good at 2:02. Sheeraz won Denny’s EBU European Middleweight title.

Denny was coming off a high-level win against Felix Cash and expected to provide more opposition to Sheeraz. But he was overwhelmed by Sheeraz from the opening bell. Sheeraz towered over Denny and took command over every moment of the brief contest.

Hamzah Sheeraz had a height and reach advantage over Tyler Denny. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The first knockdown occurred ten seconds into the fight from a looping left hook. Denny was a bit off balance and wisely took a knee to avoid anything worse. The finish came on a body shot halfway through the second round. Denny was on his hands and knees, gasping for breath. He tried to rise before the count, but referee Mark Bates decided his night was over.

It was a rough night for Tyler Denny, floored for the second time and not beating the count, giving Hamzah Sheeraz his win. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Sheeraz trains in Van Nuys, California, at the Ten Goose Gym, run by Joe Goosen. He gives tremendous credit to his team, including head trainer Ricky Funez.

“I’m humble in victory, humble in defeat, humble in life. It was a great victory. A massive thank you to everyone who came out to support me today. I always leave it down to my team … They know what they’re doing. This wasn’t a banana skin for me. They put me in here for a reason, and I delivered.

“I can only say thank you to them because the result of what I do in the ring is from them and from them guys only. I do what Ricky says, I repeat everything he says, and I come in the ring and do what I need to get done,” said Sheeraz.

Hamzah Sheeraz gave credit to his California-based training team for this victory. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

With the middleweight division lacking for dominating talent, the 25-year-old Sheeraz has a golden opportunity to rise quickly, and he says he’s ready.

“I’m getting tired of calling out for world title fights,” said Sheeraz. “His Excellency is the man to make them happen. Whoever he puts in the ring with me, I’m coming here and getting a knockout. Simple as that. Any 160 name, bring it on, let’s go.”

Buatsi Roars Back With Victory Over Hutchinson

Joshua Buatsi dug down to win the WBO Interim Light Heavyweight title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Joshua Buatsi of Croydon (19-0, 14 KOs) scored the most important win of his professional career, sending Willy Hutchinson of Scotland (18-2, 13 KO) to the canvas twice. Hutchinson hung on to hear the final bell on sheer guts.

It was a shocker to hear a scorecard of 113-112 for Hutchinson. Fortunately, it was followed by cards of 117-108 and 115-110 for Buatsi, who wins the interim WBO Light-Heavyweight title.

Buatsi knew he needed a win to continue his ascent in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions. He fought like it, putting on the pressure against Hutchinson and chipping away with good body punching. It set up the first knockdown, a beautiful left uppercut on the chin, followed by body shots chopping Hutchinson down.

Joshua Buatsi dropped Willy Hutchinson twice, but Hutchinson managed to make it to the bell. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

The second half of the fight was all Buatsi, snapping jabs and following with power combinations. Feeling the pressure, Hutchinson was docked a point in the seventh round for leading with his head, a tactic he’s used in previous fights.

In the ninth round, Buatsi ran the gauntlet trying to end the fight, dropping Hutchinson again on a body shot straight to the gut. Hutchinson somehow beat the count and got help from the bell, ending the round. Hutchinson summoned all his determination to end the fight on his feet, but the result was only in question in the mind of one judge.

Cacace Cruises To Decision over Warrington

Anthony Cacace was too much for Josh Warrington to overcome. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

IBF Super-Featherweight World Champion Anthony Cacace of Belfast (23-1, 8 KOs) didn’t have his title at stake against former two-time featherweight champion Josh Warrington of Leeds (31-3-1, 8 KOs). But Warrington could win it with a victory. Cacace didn’t let it happen, dominating the much smaller Leeds Warrior coming up a division. Scorecards read 118-110 and 117-111 twice.

Josh Warrington placed his gloves on the canvas, symbolizing his retirement. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Warrington had his moments, but moments aren’t enough to win rounds and win on the cards. Cacace had too much power and was able to control the ring. Still, Warrington fought aggressively and gave it his all. After the loss, Warrington placed his gloves on the canvas, announcing his retirement.

Kelly Holds Off Davis

Josh Kelly got a spirited challange from Ishmael Davis. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Josh Kelly of Sunderland (16-1-1, 8 KOs) got a spirited challenge from late replacement Ishmael Davis of Leeds (13-01 6 KOs) in their middleweight bout. As the judges' scores were read with the first a draw at 114-114, would there be a second upset? Not to be as the remaining cards gave the fight to Kelly by majority decision, 115-114 and 115-113.

Davis will wonder what might have been. He had his moments in the earlier rounds, but he had several opportunities after buzzing Kelly to put him away but couldn’t do it. He came close in the final round, hurting Kelly, whose vision was compromised by a bleeding cut over the eye.

Even with the loss, Davis delivered a solid performance and will still get good matchups ahead.

I got caught,” said Kelly. “The blood was blurring me out. I couldn’t see as it was coming down. (It) wasn’t necessarily a hard shot. It was a clean shot, don’t get me wrong. He’s a strong, decent kid but I thought as I was going into the last round that I couldn’t lose the fight.”

Padley Upsets Chamberlain in Opening Bout

Josh Padley started the card with an upset win over Mark Chamberlain. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Josh Padley of Yorkshire (15-0, 4 KOs) opened the card with an upset win over Turki Alalshiekh’s self-proclaimed favorite fighter, lightweight Mark Chamberlain of Portsmouth (16-1, 12 KOs). Scorecards were all for Padley, 96-92 twice and 95-93. Padley fought back tears as he was embraced by his team.

Although bloodied by the end of the fight, Padley controlled and frustrated Chamberlain for much of the fight, winning on the strength of an eighth-round knockdown and point deduction against Chamberlain in the ninth round for pushing. The knockdown came as the pair traded shots when Chamberlain left his chin up, and Padley tagged him with a nifty left hook to the chin.