Hamzah Sheeraz will take on former world title challenger Liam Williams at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, 2 December.

Sheeraz (18-0, 4 KOs), has thrived since moving up to middleweight last year. The WBC Silver champion has stopped all four of his opponents at 160lbs and was punch perfect when picking apart Dmytro Mytrofanov inside two rounds on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk’s recent stoppage of Daniel Dubois in Poland.

The unbeaten 24 year old has been linked with a shot at WBO middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, but before jumping in with one of the division’s top operators he needs that one opponent who can push him onto the next level both in terms of his own professional development and public recognition.

Williams (24-4-1, 19 KO’s) fits the bill perfectly. The Welshman is well known and respected by British fight fans and is searching for his own route back into world title contention following consecutive decision defeats to Demetrius Andrade and Chris Eubank Jnr. The former British champion will know that another loss would all but end his world title aspirations and Sheeraz is well aware that a motivated, hungry version of Liam Williams is a handful for anybody.

“It is definitely a great fight and a great fight for me at this stage of my career,” Sheeraz said. “Obviously, for him, it is a comeback fight and if he were to beat me, he would be back on the scene again, but this is a fight I feel I am more than ready for.”

“It is something I almost need to get the attention of the British public. He has fought for world titles, and it is definitely my hardest fight to date, but it is a challenge I am relishing, and I know what I can do.

“I’ve just got to go in there and do what I do best. People have got to remember though, that he is a dangerous fighter with a lot to prove and he will come in hungry. I’ve got to prepare for the best version of Liam Williams.”