Hamzah Sheeraz or Chris Eubank Jr - who will get the next shot at Canelo?
Bouts are frequently confirmed and announced inside the ring moments after a winner is pronounced, whilst some champions are promoting future fights before they have faced their next scheduled opponent.
Hamzah Sheeraz went into his clash with Edgar Berlanga knowing that victory would take him one step closer to a fight with Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez, Saturday night's bout an eliminator for the WBC super middleweight title.
In the build-up to the fight, Berlanga often made reference to the fact that Sheeraz was supposedly in line for a shot at the undisputed champion at 168lbs, a position strengthened post-fight by boxing's kingmaker Turki Alalshikh.
Despite Alalshikh's fondness for Sheeraz, the chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority has previously hinted at the Londoner's fellow Brit, Chris Eubank Jr, facing Canelo.
Like Canelo, who faces Terence Crawford in one of the most anticipated fights in the 21st century, Eubank Jr is already scheduled to fight in September, the Eubank-Benn family rivalry reignited in a rematch with Conor Benn.
But looking past September's fights, who is likelier to face Canelo – rising star Sheeraz, or veteran Chris Eubank Jr?
The case for Hamzah Sheeraz
Hamzah Sheeraz has a big advantage in securing a fight with Canelo. He is clearly favoured by Turki Alalshikh, as evidenced by his frequent involvement on Riyadh Season cards.
Whilst the Londoner's knockout of Edgar Berlanga stole the show during The Ring's third promotion, it was a slight surprise to see a non-world title fight headline a card featuring lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
Alalshikh is obviously keen to push Sheeraz as much as possible, and his plans for a fight with Canelo seem far more concrete than his previous comments on a match-up between Álvarez and Eubank Jr.
The fact that Canelo's upcoming bout with Terence Crawford marks the second of a four-fight deal with Alalshikh suggests that boxing's kingmaker holds more negotiating power when it comes to teeing up a clash between the Mexican and Sheeraz.
He took to social media after Sheeraz's victory on Saturday, stating the 26-year-old deserved to face Canelo in 2026.
Hamzah now deserves Canelo in 2026🔥🥊
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 13, 2025
In his post-fight interview, Sheeraz still spoke of the fight as a possibility, rather than a certainty.
Sheeraz commented: "I'm not gonna sit here and loudmouth someone like [Canelo], but it would be an honour to share the ring with him. It genuinely would. Someone who, like I said, I've looked up to.
'And the next thing you know, you're in the ring with them. Do you know what I mean? So, like I said, it's an accomplishment itself. But one thing I can guarantee is if I do ever share the ring with Canelo, it's not gonna be the case of what happened in his last fight [against William Scull], where his opponent was trying to run.
"I promise you guys, like it's on camera here, even if I get knocked out, I will stand there and trade with him at the end of the day. Do you know what I mean?
'So, I'll put on a good performance, because that's what it's about … being great, daring to be great. And I know I'll do just that."
The case for Chris Eubank Jr
Chris Eubank Jr started his boxing career away from the UK to avoid the weight of his family name, the super middleweight named after his world champion father Chris Eubank.
However, even 'Next Gen' could not deny the benefits of having boxing royalty for a father. Despite his lack of world title fights, Eubank Jr has always been able to command a high profile, with his name recognised both sides of the Atlantic.
Although Canelo's name alone can sell a fight, the Mexican has proven to be just as canny a businessman as he is a boxer, and Álvarez will know that a fight with Eubank Jr will likely generate more money than a bout against Sheeraz.
The timelines also line up, with Canelo facing Terence Crawford on September 13, a week before Eubank Jr's rematch with Conor Benn.
Canelo and Eubank Jr are also in the mid-thirties, at 34 and 35 respectively, likely meaning that they will need similar recovery times before returning to the ring to face each other.
Both Eubank Jr's manager, Elliott Amoakoh, and promoter, Ben Shalom, have spoken with confidence about a fight with Canelo being made after facing Benn for a second time.
In June, Amoakah told talkSPORT: 'Hopefully Canelo gets through Terence Crawford, we get through Conor Benn and then they'll do it next.
'So that's the negotiations going on right now. Turki [Alalshikh] promised it to us. If Chris comes through that, Eubank Jr-Canelo, here we go. That's what we want. We get through Conor Benn and then we want Canelo.'
The only sticking point is that rematch with Benn. Although Eubank Jr took a unanimous decision victory over his rival, it came at great physical cost. Another all-out war not only carries the danger of further excessive wear and tear, but also a loss to Benn.
Defeat could impact Eubank Jr's stock – or lead to a trilogy bout with Benn, rather than a match-up with Canelo.
Could Canelo end up fighting both Hamzah Sheeraz and Chris Eubank Jr?
Canelo's desire for a stadium fight in the UK possibly opens the door for another fight against a Brit.
Despite enjoying a healthy record over British fighters, Álvarez has never fought in the UK, with his eight victories over Brits taking place in the US and Mexico.
For example, if Canelo was to fight Sheeraz out in the States, perhaps afterwards the 'Brit Basher' could make his Wembley dream come true with a bout against Eubank Jr under the arch.
Although helped by the rivalry with Conor Benn, Eubank Jr has proven that he is a headlining-draw in the UK, having sold out stadiums before.
Ultimately, Canelo will likely pick opponents that generate the most money - with Sheeraz's Saudi backing and Eubank Jr's name-appeal, both fighters could yet share the ring with the face of boxing.
Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more.
An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Ben Stokes enjoying ‘high quality' games between England and India despite draw
Ben Stokes praised a showing of 'high-quality cricket' between England and India as the fourth Test ended in a draw. England reached 669 in their first innings before the game fizzled out, with India closing the day on 425 for four. KL Rahul fell for 90 before Jofra Archer then dismissed Shubman Gill for 103 and Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both scored tons. Stokes hailed the quality of the Test, telling Sky Sports: 'I thought Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's opening partnership was incredibly crucial in the way we could sort of lay the foundations for the game. 'The opening partnership, the way they took the Indian attack on, the rate they were managing to score at it sort of allowed us to go, 'right we're going to try and bat once' and look to hopefully bowl India out. 'It started great yesterday with two wickets in the first over, but it was one of those wickets where if you got in, you felt like you were going to be the one to make the mistake to get out. 'It's been a back-and-forth series so far, we've been throwing punches and India have been throwing punches back at us, it's just been real high-quality cricket – two very good teams. 'Got to give credit to the way India came out here and performed under the pressure they were.' With the game destined for a draw, the final stages of the match saw India's batters electing against shaking hands with 15 overs left. Jadeja and Sundar scored hundreds before shaking hands and Stokes revealed he offered to shake with the aim of protecting his bowling attack. 'I think all the hard work was done by India, they both played incredibly well,' Stokes added. 'It got to that point where there was obviously only one result and there was no chance I was going to risk any of my big, fast bowlers for injuries with one more game to go. '(Liam Dawson) has bowled so many overs this game, his body started to get a little bit tired and cramp up in the legs. 'I wasn't risking any of my frontline bowlers for that last half-an-hour.' Stokes appeared to be troubled by his left leg and a problem in his right shoulder, and admitted he was 'pretty sore'. 'It's been a big five or six weeks,' he said. 'I'll always try and give everything that I possibly can. Try and run through a brick wall. 'I ask the guys up there to run through a brick wall for the team. I'll always try and do the same to try and lead by example in that sense. ' Bowling, being out in the field all that kind of stuff it is tough work, but pretty sore.' When asked specifically about his shoulder, he added: 'It's just a workload thing, got through a fair few amount of overs and just everything starts creeping up on you. 'I'll keep trying, keep going. As I always say to all the bowlers, pain is only an emotion.'
Telegraph
2 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Watch: Protesters dragged away after confronting transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Women's sport campaigners were forcibly thrown out of the World Matchplay Darts for protesting against transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Jean Hatchet says she was left with 'bruises and scratches' from her 'very violent' removal for holding up a 'he's a man' banner at the women's event in Blackpool. The demonstration took place as Van Leuven, the first openly transgender woman in the sport, trounced Lorraine Winstanley in a best-of-seven-legs fixture. Van Leuven was halted in the next round, however, by Fallon Sherrock, losing 5-4. Hatchet, a writer who was wearing a 'Sex Matters' T-shirt at the event, posted footage of security guards manhandling protesters out of the venue. She posted on social media that it had been a 'horrific display of brute force against women who didn't even get a chance to say 'he's a man' before being dragged out'. She was among at least three protesters thrown out. Another wore a 'Save Women's Sport' T-shirt. Glad the man Noa-Lynn Van Loeven is OUT of the women's darts. @OfficialPDC now you can answer why women were treated like THIS — Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) July 27, 2025 While many sports have toughened rules against male-born athletes in women's competitions in recent years, transgender players are generally allowed to compete in line with the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA)'s inclusive policy. Despite the protests, PDC Darts posted favourable messages about Van Leuven's involvement, describing the first-round victory 'as a dominant display to break new ground in Blackpool'. Van Leuven gets off the mark in Blackpool...! 📺 #WomensMatchplay — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025 Van Leuven took a step back from the sport at the beginning of this year citing mental-health reasons after facing intense scrutiny last year. Ahead of the Blackpool tournament, the Dutch player said: 'I love this game too much and why would I let anyone else ruin my passion for darts? 'I just want to play darts. It feels amazing to be back. It's such an iconic place to play at. Last year I just lacked a bit of confidence, I guess. I've been gaining a lot of stage experience now, so hopefully I can bring my A game to the stage this time.' The Professional Darts Corporation has been approached for a response.
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer didn't hit the spot against India - and why a final Test rejig is needed for England, writes NASSER HUSSAIN
England were forced to work exceptionally hard on a backbreaking pitch in Manchester but when Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson needed to come to the fore, they didn't quite do it. After lunch on the fifth day, Archer didn't hit the top of off stump enough, and Dawson didn't hit the rough enough. Ben Stokes had bowled so well in the morning, and his success, leaning away when bowling to right handers, was why he bowled such a long spell. The reason he got the most out of the pitch from the Jimmy Anderson End was that he combined that lean away with aiming for where the cracks were and taking the ball onto the stumps from that angle. Compared to his colleagues, he made it look like it was two different pitches, hitting the deck really hard, creating uneven bounce, which was a remarkable effort with his shoulder injury. But the two left-handers Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja negated this as he had to bowl round the wicket and by the time he did so, he was also knackered and his shoulder was sore because he'd bowled such a long spell. So it was then down to Jofra Archer, England's best bowler against left handers, but he didn't quite get it right in the afternoon session. Which then meant Stokes turned to his other strong fifth day option - the left arm spin of Dawson. For his first Test match back in eight years, he bowled okay, I just think he missed that rough quite a bit, and it was noticeable walking off at tea, that Stokes called Dawson over, almost showing him where it was. Make no mistake. The reason there have been four out of four County Championship draws here at Old Trafford this summer is because for finger spinners there's not massive turn. Even Jadeja couldn't get it spitting. Yes, Dawson was picked to have an impact at the end of the game, but it's not like it was in Chennai or Galle or Mumbai. It was just offering a bit of turn, but because he doesn't quite have the drop of Shoaib Bashir, he can't quite get it up and down into that rough. He's short, and as he collapses a little bit in his action, he couldn't quite get it full enough. Stokes was leaving the gap, wanting the batsmen to drive so he could get them bowled through the gate. He hit that area a few times and it spun a bit, and he could have gone a bit wider to the right handers, but I wouldn't over-judge him because it was his first game back and it wasn't like he was bowling on a spitting cobra of a pitch. His dropped catch - one of three by England - would have hurt him, as it proved quite costly. India captain Shubman Gill was on 46, and his dismissal on day four rather than Sunday would have made it a different contest. England worked seriously hard for little reward and they obviously had some tired legs by the end. Stokes has got another Test match in three days' time at The Oval and he can't keep putting himself through that. If England had won here, I would have considered playing him as a specialist batter to continue his good form, or even tell him to have a blow, and get the shoulder sorted. But as it's a live game he's obviously going to have to play now, perhaps as a batter who bowls a bit. The final Test of the series has turned into a bit of a selection conundrum actually and I think it might require a bit of a rejig, with Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson coming in for Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes, who left the field at the end feeling his calf. Potentially you'd go for Jamie Overton as well, if Archer says he's not fit. The question is: can Archer go back to back? It's one only the individual can answer. With all the injuries he's had it would be fully understandable if he said he wasn't able to play a third straight Test and I might take the decision out of his hands even if he said yes.
