\u201cIf Hamzah will have the balls to take this fight, it can bring the ‘Best Fight of the Year,'” Alimkhanuly’s manager Egis Klimas wrote on X. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a huge and big fight for boxing fans. We are in and ready, Hamzah are you ready? Let’s bring some fun for our Fans!\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Queensberry Promotions submitted a winning purse bid of $1,001,809<\/a> for the mandated bout between Sheeraz, the WBO super middleweight champion, and Alimkhanuly, the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger. Top Rank bid $850,000.<\/p>\n Two proposed dates are November 28 and December 5, while London and New York are potential locations.<\/p>\n However, while Team Alimkhanuly<\/a> is ready, willing, and able to accept all terms, Sheeraz is still figuring things out.<\/p>\n “Brother if it was a ‘huge fight,’ Top Rank or yourself would have put up big numbers,” Sheeraz replied to Klimas on X. “You’re a smart man, you already know this. But no need to worry.”<\/p>\n Klimas hit back again, writing: “Brother, it\u2019s not always about big numbers, as you know we [are] even on the 25% side. But of course it\u2019s for you to make decisions on your own career. Good luck!”<\/p>\n Sheeraz<\/a>, The Ring\u2019s No. 9-ranked super middleweight, has never been a fan of Alimkhanuly’s sudden status as a mandatory challenger. The former IBF and WBO middleweight champion was handed a backdated one-year ban after failing a VADA drug test in the lead-up to his unification bout against WBA champion Erislandy Lara in December.<\/p>\n In July, after Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) announced that he was moving up in weight, the WBO revealed that he was now Sheeraz\u2019s mandatory challenger. They also announced that Alimkhanuly\u2019s suspension was cut short due to him \u201cfulfilling all of the necessary requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KOs) recently told The Ring<\/a> he would be willing to fight Alimkhanuly as long as he received a significant payday.<\/p>\n That, however, won\u2019t be happening. Sheeraz is entitled to 75% of Queensberry\u2019s bid, totaling just $751,357. Alimkhanuly would take the remaining 25%, coming in at $250,452.<\/p>\n