Strap yourself in for an all-British middleweight showdown this Saturday as fast-rising prospect Hamzah Sheeraz defends his Commonwealth title against proven world-level operator Liam Williams. London’s Copper Box Arena plays host to the tantalising main event, with victory for either man ensuring that their name is thrown into world title contention.
Another Commonwealth title defence forms the co-main event, as Lewis Sylvester challenges for Sam Noakes‘ strap, bolstering an extensive Queensberry Promotions’ card. Promoter Frank Warren has pulled out all the stops for a blockbuster night of boxing action, featuring eleven fights and including fan favourites Anthony Yarde, Karol Itauma, and Masood Abdulah.
Hamzah Sheeraz vs Liam Williams
Last year was not ideal for the towering 6’3″ prospect Hamzah Sheeraz. After the Slough man had put the middleweight division on notice in 2022 – racking up three wins and collecting the vacant Commonwealth title in two-rounds against River Wilson-Bent – Sheeraz appeared ahead of schedule to soar up the rankings. A series of niggling injuries in 2023, however, saw the 24-year-old fight just once last year. His second-round stoppage victory against Dymtro Mytrofanov on the Daniel Dubois vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard helped spark interest again, before Sheeraz jumps into his toughest fight to date.
Liam Williams is a fabulous front-foot boxer. By maintaining a high volume of strikes per round, Williams wears down opponents and breaks their guard to create his own openings. British-tier opponents have melted under the Welshman’s intensity, with both Mark Heffron and Gary Corcoran fading to late stoppages. Time and again, however, Williams’ defensive flaws have been exposed at the upper echelons of middleweight. While the back-to-back losses to Liam Smith were tight-knit affairs, they provided an early glimpse of Williams’ inability to create counter-striking opportunities against craftier operators.
Sheeraz appears to have found his ‘adult strength’ in recent years, although his increased stoppage rates could have just as much to do with a more effective use of his natural length. Mytrofanov’s strategy, one which Williams will have to emulate (albeit more successfully), was to get in Sheeraz’s face and pin him to the ropes. Unfortunately for the Ukrainian, Sheeraz used his jab efficiently to keep his foe weaving, before sliding into the pocket to rip hooks to the body and head. Ironically, Sheeraz’s worst performance came against Bradley Skeete who adopted a patient counter-heavy gameplan – but Williams would negate his best weapons if he chose such an approach.
Sheeraz vs Williams Prediction: Sheeraz TKO Round 9
Sam Noakes vs Lewis Sylvester
On the one hand, Sam Noakes is an athletic freak with an insanely high ceiling to develop into. On the other, the 26-year-old has blasted his way to the Commonwealth-level by heavily relying on his physical gifts, and perhaps neglecting important fundamental development. It may sound harsh, but it was only two years ago that the unheralded Shaun Cooper pushed Noakes deep into their ten-round fight before a suspect stoppage.
The unbeaten Lewis Sylvester is fully deserving of his crack at the Commonwealth, having picked up and then defended the English title in the latter half of 2023. Unfortunately for fans, this match-up should amount to nothing more than active rounds for Noakes. Sylvester was fortunate to shave the decision against Adam Cope to secure the English title, finding success early on through his fleet feet, yet he struggled to maintain his form down the stretch. When facing a cardio-machine in Noakes, it is a fatal flaw.
Noakes vs Sylvester Prediction: Noakes TKO Round 8
Anthony Yarde vs Marko Nikolic
The cyclical nature of Anthony Yarde’s career has been as infuriating as it has been brave. Since 2019, the Hackney fighter has adopted an approach of jumping head first into high-level fights (Sergey Kovalev in Russia, Artur Beterbiev, I will even count Lyndon Arthur twice) and performing admirably. Despite proving his worth amongst light-heavyweight’s elite, Yarde inevitably returns to fighting opposition which amount to nothing more than paid actors – unknown European boxers with a record possessing greater padding than the Michelin Man.
Serbian Marko Nikolic is no exception to the Yarde-cycle. The 34-year-old has fought the entirety of his 35-fight career in Serbia and Montenegro, with the exception of two fights – a points loss to Bernandin Jakaj in Austria last March and a second-round TKO loss to Ivan Zucco in Italy in 2022. Only ten of Nikolic’s opponents have held winning records when he faced them. Better yet, Nikolic’s career accomplishment is his capture of the WBC Mediterranean title – a belt which has been contested just ten times in its history.
Yarde vs Nikolic Prediction: Yarde TKO Round 2
Masood Abdullah vs Qais Ashfaq
After a scratchy victory over Tinko Banabakov in the summer of 2022, Masood Abdullah was forced to return to the drawing board. The ABA national amateur champion was visibly struggling with the pace of professional opposition. Those fears were finally relieved in a near-flawless performance over veteran Marc Leach last October. Abdullah bullied his experienced foe from the opening bell, consistently edging into the pocket to draw Leach out of his shell before punishing the Salfordian.
A similar gameplan would ensure fireworks on Saturday night when pitted against an equally aggressive boxer in Qais Ashfaq. The 30-year-old hit a major career roadblock when he was dropped twice in a losing effort against the same Leach back in 2020, yet recovered his confidence against a number of journeymen. With the biological clock ticking at super featherweight, traditionally a young man’s division, Ashfaq rose to a vacant British title shot against Liam Dillon – falling to a split decision loss. Although it may sound strange, Saturday night could prove to be last chance saloon for Ashfaq on a major show.
Abdullah vs Ashfaq Prediction: Abdullah Decision
Karol Itauma vs Eros Seghetti
And here marks the final meaningful fight of the card. That is despite both Karol Itauma and Eros Seghetti so far having failed to set the professional world alight.
Itauma, a Youth Olympic gold medallist, started 2023 in disastrous fashion as he was stopped by journeyman Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna in five rounds. Although the 23-year-old has since recovered with two points victories, question marks loom over his chin. Meanwhile, Seghetti finds himself fighting out of Italy for the first time in his fledgling career. The 30-year-old is a tricky customer to find online, aside from ancient amateur fights. Don’t expect much resistance for Itauma on fight night, however.
Itauma vs Seghetti Prediction: Itauma Decision
Aloys Youmbi vs Milosav Savic
Aloys Youmbi‘s imperfect record may raise eyebrows, but the 20-year-old is a diamond in the rough. He can appear robotic when unleashing combinations yet the freak power he possesses is a joy to watch.
Youmbi vs Savic Prediction: Youmbi Decision
Tommy Fletcher vs Alvaro Terrero
The Norfolk Nightmare is a monstrous 6’7″ cruiserweight with surprising speed in his hands and feet. Tommy Fletcher does tend to walk himself back on to the ropes, however, meaning we will likely see his chin tested before he reaches a meaningful level.
Fletcher vs Terrero Prediction: Fletcher TKO Round 3
Umar Khan vs Maicol Velazco
Umar Khan, a national amateur champion and 8-fight undefeated professional, deserves more credit for what he has achieved as a 21-year-old. Although Khan is yet to secure a stoppage in the pro ranks, opponent Maicol Velazco has been stopped twice in his last three fights.
Khan vs Velazco Prediction: Khan Decision
Billy Adams vs Engel Gomez
A four-time national champion, Billy Adams‘ stabbing body jabs provide his key weapon, frustrating opponents from the outside and forcing mistakes.
Adams vs Gomez Prediction: Adams Decision
Charlie Hickford vs Yin Caicedo
Charlie Hickford forms another part of Frank Warren’s youthful stable. The 22-year-old trains alongside Karol and Moses Itauma at the Chatham gym, approaching fights with a similar gung-ho offence.
Hickford vs Caicedo Prediction: Adams Decision
Sam King vs Bartosz Glowacki
A Peacock gym product, Sam King enjoyed a 57-fight amateur career before turning pro at the end of 2023. The Luton man was a little over eager in his debut, suffocating his own work, but otherwise didn’t place a foot wrong.
KIng vs Glowacki Prediction: Silva TKO Round 3
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