Hamzah Sheeraz insists it is ‘make or break’ time forward of Wembley bout

On Saturday night, Hamzah Sheeraz will walk out in front of 96,000 people at Wembley to take on Tyler Denny for his European middleweight title.

For the boy from Ilford, widely regarded as one of Britain’s most exciting fighters, it is just another step in his world title journey.

Unbeaten in 20 fights with 16 KOs and 14 straight stoppage wins, Sheeraz tells Mail Sport that his time is now.

‘Winning on Saturday would progress me to achieve my dream of becoming a world champion and staying undefeated,’ he says. 

‘All fights are make or break in the position I’m in. God forbid I lose and I have to rebuild and start again. I’ve come too far. I’ve got too much to lose. I know that within my next two fights, I’ll be fighting for a world title,’

On Saturday night, Hamzah Sheeraz will walk out in front of 96,000 people at Wembley

The 25-year-old will face Tyler Denny (right) for his European middleweight title

Sheeraz says it’s make or break time once again as he seeks to continue his unbeaten streak

For Sheeraz, that world title fight is within touching reach – Frank Warren, Sheeraz’s promoter, took him on as a raw 18-year-old but quickly marked him out as future champion and it was in Riyadh in June when the now 25-year-old knocked out Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams to retain his WBC Silver middleweight title and elevate himself to the next level.

‘That was a 50/50 fight against someone touted as the next world champion in the 160 division. I went about my business and knocked him out. That’s done now. We’re heading in the right direction. The buck stops with Tyler Denny on Saturday,’ says Sheeraz. 

‘My mind’s on the job. My body’s on the job. I’m just raring to go in front of 96,000 people.’

Sheeraz had expected Saturday night’s bout to be against Carlos Adames, the WBC middleweight champion but the Dominican got injured, while talks of a clash against Chris Eubank Jr were quietened when he said that Sheeraz wasn’t big enough, with Sheeraz revealing that 35-year-old Eubank Jr turned down the fight even though he was offered the money he wanted.

Sheeraz knocked out Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams to retain his WBC Silver middleweight title

The Ilford-born fighter insists he still wants to take on Chris Eubank Jr, who has already turned down an offer

‘Respectfully that’s a load of sh*t,’ says Sheeraz. ‘The reason is that if I wasn’t big enough then he should have gone to fight someone like Conor Benn rather than the geezer (Kamil Szeremeta) he’s fighting now. 

‘Of course, I want that fight (against Eubank Jr) in terms of profile but my career doesn’t depend on him. If it happens, lovely. If it doesn’t, I carry on. After my last fight, anyone against me in the 160 division is a big enough fight and I know that if I go on to win a world title at this weight, he will come chasing me,’ claims Sheeraz.

With his fight against Denny the penultimate on the card before Anthony Joshua takes on Daniel Dubois, the prospect of walking out in front of over 90,000 fans in home country is exciting yet daunting to say the least.

‘Until I get on my ring walk, only then will I know how I’ll react. You can’t prepare for that. God willing, the support and following goes through the roof and I’m sure the superstar effect will follow through,’ he says.

For Warren, who has already compared Sheeraz to Tommy Hearns and insisted that a star has been born, Saturday night in London offers the potential to propel his man to the next level.

Frank Warren (right) took on Sheeraz when he was 18 and was quick to mark him out as a future champion 

‘I’ve always had high praise from Frank (Warren) and when you hear it from the horse’s mouth, it humbles me and it goes to show that what I want to do and where I want to go with my boxing career, I’m heading in the right direction,’ says Sheeraz. 

‘That support means everything to me and more. When you’re a kid and you see these big promoters like Frank and Eddie (Hearn), you always aim to be a part of their stable. When you’re a kid, it’s a dream that seems so far away and before you know it, you’re one of his best fighters.’