Hamzah Sheeraz vs Carlos Adames: Controversial Draw in WBC Middleweight Championship
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Hamzah Sheeraz's world title challenge ended in disappointment but the Briton was fortunate to claim a draw against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames in Saudi Arabia. A cautious Sheeraz – who was on a 15-fight knockout streak – never really found his rhythm and seemed reluctant to let his hands go. Adames produced the cleaner and more varied work, the volume of punches and fluidity. The Dominican, 30, retained his belt but can feel unlucky with a split-decision draw.
The three judges in Riyadh scored it 118-110 to Adames, 115-114 to Sheeraz and 114-114. With swelling under his right eye, Sheeraz cut a frustrated and deflated figure at the final bell. The 25-year-old was guilty of overthinking, being too hesitant and perhaps overawed by the occasion. Sheeraz was fortunate to remain undefeated as his record extended to 21 wins and one draw. He looked disappointed at the final bell, before the scorecards were read out. The result sparked controversy among boxing fans and experts, with many feeling that Adames had done enough to win the fight.
As challenger, Ilford's Sheeraz made an understated ring walk first, keeping his eyes firmly on his rival as both boxers were introduced to the crowd. Adames was in confident mood throughout fight week, describing the Briton as hype and questioning the quality of his previous opponents, while not affected by the jeers which greeted him. The pair sized each other up in the opening rounds and the champion crouched down, bobbed and weaved his way around the ring, targeting 6ft 3in Sheeraz's body. Sheeraz's performance was so flat that, before the tenth round, his corner told him he had two desperate rounds to pull something from the fire. The WBC middleweight title challenger turned it on and enjoyed his best stanza in the 11th, with three big shots harming Adames. Sheeraz landed the cleaner shots in the last shift too but, despite the urges of the crowd, refused to put his foot on the gas and coasted to the final bell.
Another Briton also saw his dreams dashed as American Shakur Stevenson stopped Josh Padley in the ninth round to make a stylish defence of his WBC lightweight title. The undefeated Stevenson had stopped just 10 of his previous 22 opponents, but what the New Jersey fighter lacks in knockout power he makes up with quick hands, combinations and sharpness. A perplexed Stevenson looked at Padley's corner when they got overly excited by a shot which almost landed in the third. Moments later, the Doncaster fighter's legs buckled by a solid right from the three-weight world champion. The courageous Padley fought on, even bringing a smile from Stevenson when unleashing his own flurry of punches, but the writing was on the wall. Here are the match scores:
- Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley: 9th round stoppage
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs Carlos Adames: 114-114 draw
- Callum Smith vs Joshua Buatsi: 115-113, 116-112, 119-110 to Smith
Callum Smith extended his record to 31 wins and two defeats with a unanimous points decision win over fellow Briton Joshua Buatsi. Both men enjoyed success in a high-level back-and-forth encounter - one which could have headlined a UK arena. Liverpudlian Smith targeted Buatsi's body early and hurt the Olympian with a hook in the sixth. But Buatsi came back strongly, using his jab well and landing power punches of his own as former super-middleweight world champion Smith, bloodied by a cut to his eye, tired. The 34-year-old Smith was awarded the decision with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and a contentious 119-110 to become the WBO 'interim' champion.
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