Hamzah Sheeraz has done more than just win another fight — he has sent a shockwave through the super middleweight division. The towering Brit demolished the previously undefeated Edgar Berlanga in a ruthless display of power and composure, officially planting his flag at 168lbs and announcing himself as a genuine threat to the division’s established elite.
Stepping into the ring, Sheeraz was seen by many as the underdog against Berlanga, the hard-hitting Brooklyn native whose early career had been defined by a string of blistering first-round knockouts. Berlanga came in with swagger, power, and the backing of an American fanbase eager to see him rise as a new star in a weight class dominated by the likes of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and David Benavidez. But on fight night, it was Sheeraz who owned the spotlight.
From the opening bell, Sheeraz controlled the action with a punishing jab and intelligent footwork. He refused to be bullied by Berlanga’s early aggression, instead timing counters that gradually broke down the New Yorker’s confidence. What was expected by some to be a brawl turned into a masterclass in calculated destruction. By the third round, Sheeraz was landing clean combinations almost at will, snapping Berlanga’s head back with stiff rights and digging vicious hooks to the body.
The breakthrough came dramatically in the fourth round. A crisp one-two from Sheeraz sent Berlanga stumbling backward before a thudding left hook crumpled him to the canvas. Although Berlanga bravely beat the count, he looked like a beaten man. Sensing blood, Sheeraz closed the show moments later with a clinical flurry that left the referee no choice but to wave it off. The British contingent in the arena erupted — they knew they had just witnessed the emergence of a new player at super middleweight.
This win is more than just another number on Sheeraz’s undefeated record. At 6’3”, with rangy arms and a granite chin, Sheeraz already looks like a nightmare matchup for many at 168lbs. His team had spoken confidently about stepping up in weight, but few expected him to dismantle Berlanga in such dominant fashion. In the build-up, Sheeraz had promised to make a statement — and he delivered emphatically.
For Berlanga, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow. He had carved out a reputation as a fearsome puncher, but the sheen of invincibility he built during his 16-fight first-round knockout streak has gradually faded over the past few fights. Against Sheeraz, he looked short on ideas once he couldn’t intimidate his opponent with raw power. Now, Berlanga and his camp will need to regroup and reassess how they can rebuild his path to the top in a division stacked with killers.
Meanwhile, for Sheeraz, the path ahead looks mouthwatering. In a post-fight interview brimming with quiet confidence, he made it clear he wants the biggest names at super middleweight. Canelo Alvarez’s name inevitably came up, as did David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. Though he is still only 25, Sheeraz’s demolition job on Berlanga will make promoters and fans alike wonder if the Brit is ready to be fast-tracked to a title shot sooner rather than later.
British boxing has been desperate for a fresh face to emerge in the glamour divisions. With Anthony Joshua’s ups and downs at heavyweight and the ongoing drama in the welterweight ranks, Sheeraz’s rise feels perfectly timed. Charismatic, disciplined, and with the kind of style that thrills crowds, he has all the ingredients to become a major star — not just at home, but on both sides of the Atlantic.
The win over Berlanga will also likely boost Sheeraz’s profile among American fight fans. Beating an American on American soil is often the passport to bigger fights, bigger paydays, and bigger opportunities. With the super middleweight landscape in flux — and with Canelo’s long-term plans never entirely certain — Sheeraz’s team may sense that striking now could lead to a shot at a marquee name within a year.
For now, Britain can celebrate another rising world-level contender. Hamzah Sheeraz came to 168lbs with questions swirling about whether his power and presence would translate. After crushing Berlanga, the questions have changed completely: how far can he go, and who
dares to stop him?
