Hamzah Sheeraz ordered to fight Janibek Alimkhanuly for WBO belt

The WBO has officially ordered Hamzah Sheeraz to defend his super middleweight title against Janibek Alimkhanuly. Following a ruling on August 7, the champion and the challenger have 20 days to reach a formal agreement. If no deal is made within this window, the organization will proceed toward a purse bid.

The decision came after the WBO rejected a petition from Jacob Bank to take the mandatory position. In selecting Alimkhanuly, the sanctioning body highlighted his previous championship experience, the quality of his past opponents, and his record of five successful WBO title defenses at middleweight. Alimkhanuly's WBO suspension ended on July 10 after he met all required conditions, and the organization ruled that this should not prevent him from receiving mandatory status.

Alimkhanuly moves into the super middleweight division without having previously competed at the weight. The WBO defended this move by noting its history of granting special consideration to established champions transitioning between weight classes. This decision follows a period of scrutiny regarding Alimkhanuly's rapid ascent following his anti-doping case.

For Sheeraz, the mandate presents a significant competitive challenge. While he has recently faced difficult tests, such as a 12-round bout against Simon Zachenhuber and a controversial draw with Carlos Adames, Alimkhanuly offers a higher level of championship pedigree. The southpaw brings significant power and timing to the matchup.

There is a financial complication regarding the order. While Sheeraz has expressed interest in high-profile fights involving Canelo Alvarez, Alimkhanuly does not offer a comparable payday. Queensberry may attempt to negotiate a step-aside agreement or seek an exception to avoid the fight if a more lucrative unification or high-profile bout arises. However, if no such arrangement is reached, Sheeraz must either face Alimkhanuly or surrender his WBO belt.