Hamzah Sheeraz promises to deliver; Zhilei Zhang gives Agit Kabayel an envelope

WBC No. 1 middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz believes he is more than ready for his February 22 shot at Carlos Adames.

The Englishman is 21-0 (17 KOs) having posted an impressive 2024 with victories over Liam Williams, Ammo Williams and Tyler Denny.

Adames is 24-1 (18 KOs) and defeated Terrell Gausha in his only fight last year. 
Ahead of their bout in Saudi Arabia, Adames – from the Dominican Republic – was not at the press conference in London today, but Sheeraz promised he would fulfil his destiny next month.

“This is the opportunity. If I’m not ready now, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” said Sheeraz. “Ever since being eight years old, being that young kid that wanted to win that gold and green belt, February 22. It’s a hard task, I’m under no illusions what I’ve got in front of me, but I believe that I’m going to do the business, and come February 22, you’re going to have a new WBC middleweight champion of the world. I always said once I get the opportunities, once I get the platforms, I’ll deliver.”

On the same bill, there is potential for violence in the heavyweight fight between China’s Zhilei Zhang, 27-2-1 (22 KOs), and Germany’s Agit Kabayel, who is 25-0 (17 KOs).
They kept their exchanges brief and respectful while on stage with one another.

“I am ready for the next challenge,” said Kabayel. “I train hard for the fight. Let’s go. I think this fight is very good. The winner of this fight can get a title shot.”

Zhang gifted Kabayel a red envelope, a sign that Chinese New Year is coming and something you give “to people you like.”

“After the press conference, we’re both going to go back to our camps and train like hell,” said Zhang. “One month later, we’re going to meet in the ring and the whole world will see what Chinese power is all about.”