Hamzah Sheeraz lived up to his billing as one of the brightest rising stars in British boxing with a one-round demolition of Liam Williams.
The 24-year-old Commonwealth middleweight champion moves to 19-0 with 15 stoppages after his 13th consecutive win inside the distance.
A bout billed as a classic crossroads clash had visible signposts early on as former world title challenger Williams was blown away.
The 31-year-old Welshman had only previously lost in (25-5-1, 20 KOs) elite company but never in such brutally short order.
Sheeraz’s left lead is one to delight the purists, while also being thrown with serious venom. After a pensive opening minute, Williams walked onto one and found himself on the seat of his trunks.
Hamzah Sheeraz is the REAL DEAL! @sheeraz_hamzah took less the one round to stop the former world title challenger Liam Williams #SheerazWilliams pic.twitter.com/bTTYl5BesV
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) February 10, 2024
The champion took that as his cue to throw with more authority and the right uppercut that floored Williams for a second time was a beauty.
He rose on unsteady legs, with 45 seconds still remaining in the round. Williams got up off the canvas after a nightmare start against Chris Eubank Jr. two years ago but tonight he was in with a far more spiteful operator.
A meaty left hook steadied Williams and, although he remained upright, his longtime trainer and friend Gary Lockett compassionately waved the towel.
“That jab has just put the frighteners up every middleweight on the planet,” said former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton on the TNT broadcast afterwards. Promoter Frank Warren — who outlandishly compared his man to the great Thomas Hearns in the afterglow of victory — has big plans for Sheeraz and a new big platform in Saudi Arabia. We might be about to find out just how high he can climb.
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Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Liam Williams full card results
- Hamzah Sheeraz (c) def. Liam Williams (1/12 TKO) to retain the Commonwealth middleweight title
- Sam Noakes (c) def. Lewis Sylvester (TKO 4/12) to add the vacant British lightweight title to his Commonwealth lightweight title
- Anthony Yarde def. Marko Nikolic (TKO 3/10); light heavyweights
- Tommy Fletcher def. Alvaro Terrero (TKO 3/6); cruiserweights
- Masood Abdulah def. Qais Ashfaq (TKO 5/10); featherweights
- Karol Itauma def. Eros Seghetti (PTS 8); light heavyweights
- Umar Khan def. Maicol Velazco (TKO 3/6), featherweights
- Aloys Youmbi def. Milosav Savic (KO 1/6), heavyweights
Will Anthony Yarde fight Joshua Buatsi
Freshly crowned British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Joshua Buatsi was ringside to see his long-time domestic rival Anthony Yarde record a one-sided beatdown of Marko Nikolic. It must be hoped Buatsi and Yarde (25-3, 24 KOs) can put their differences and various promotional entanglements to on side to put on a far more competitive contest later this year.
Yarde staggered Nikolic (32-4, 12 KOs) with a minute remaining of the opening round, the differential in speed and power between the two fighters already abundantly clear. The home favourite also varied his attacks nicely to the bod, with Nikolic twice taking a knee in round two.
It was time for Yarde to tee off with abandon. His foe gamely battled to the end of the round but a meaty right uppercut to the solar plexus was enough to close the show in the third.
A clinical performance from @mranthonyyarde
Watch #SheerazWilliams LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/1MDlfDH4ku
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) February 10, 2024
13 wins, 13 KOs for Sam Noakes
The standout performance on the undercard came from undefeated lightweight Sam Noakes, who extended his perfect knockout record to 13 in succession with a fourth-round stoppage of Lewis Sylvester.
Noakes showed no mercy against his former sparring partner Sylvester (13-1, 4 KO) to add the British title at 135 lbs to his Commonwealth belt. Sylvester somehow escaped from a torrid third round when he was twice floored by sapping body shots and the towel came in when he was dropped for a third time.
What a beautiful round of boxing from Sam Noakes!
Watch #SheerazWilliams LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/GF3XbxXfqX
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) February 10, 2024
What time is Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Liam Williams?
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Liam Williams airs on February 10 at 2 p.m. ET.
Region | Date | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, February 10 | 2 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. ET |
USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, February 10 | 11 a.m. PT | 2:30 p.m. PT |
UK and Ireland | Saturday, February 10 | 7 p.m. GMT | 10:30 p.m. GMT |
Australia | Sunday, February 11 | 6 a.m. AEDT |
9:30 a.m. AEDT |
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How to watch Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Liam Williams: TV channel, live stream
Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
USA | ESPN | ESPN+ |
Canada | — | TSN+ |
UK and Ireland | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Arena | Sky GO |
Australia | — | TBC |
The Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Liam Williams main card will air on ESPN+ in the U.S. The undercard will air exclusively on ESPN+.