Hamzah Sheeraz escaped with a narrow points win, while Josh Kelly overcame a horror gash to his nose on the Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga undercard in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. <p>Londoner Sheeraz, who sealed his first world title with a second-round stoppage win against Alem Begic to claim the vacant WBO super-middleweight crown in Egypt, defeated Germany's Simon Zachenhuber.</p><p>After a 12-round fight that ended with boos around the arena the judges returned scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112, in favour of Sheeraz, who posed with Jacob Bank in the ring following his win.</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/boxing/live-blog/12183/13566969/anthony-joshua-vs-kristian-prenga-live-updates-from-jeddah-as-aj-prepares-for-likely-showdown-with-tyson-fury">Anthony Joshua KOs Kristian Prenga after being floored</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/boxing/live-blog/12183/13566620/tyson-fury-vs-mariusz-wach-live-updates-from-thailand-as-british-star-prepares-for-likely-showdown-with-anthony-joshua-later-this-year">Tyson Fury vs Mariusz Wach – as it happened in Thailand</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">Get Sky Sports</a> or <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/watch-sky-sports-online?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">stream with no contract on NOW</a></strong></li></ul><p>"I am a champion in the division. I'm sure people are champing at the bit after [my] performance," said Sheeraz, who said he would be sat ringside on October 31 to watch Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez challenge for Christian Mbilli's WBC belt.</p><p>"I got the win, that's all that matters. I could make a million excuses. I'll be better in the next fight.</p><p>"I need a step up now, someone who will mentally present a challenge. I was switching off at times, I was too comfortable when I didn't have a threat in front of me."</p><widget id="1"></widget><p>Josh Kelly overcame a horror gash to his nose as he secured a unanimous points win against Irishman Caoimhin Agyarko in an IBF Light-Middleweight title fight in Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Nicknamed 'Pretty Boy', Kelly was left bloodied as the pair clashed heads in the 11th round with the Brit's face left a mess.</p><p>But he did enough to get the win with scorecards of 115-112, 115-112, 114-113.</p><p>"I told Caoimhin, don't take it as a loss, take it as a learning. If he wants it bad enough, he will bounce back," said Kelly.</p><p>Agyarko said: "I thought I won it, but if it's not good enough for the judges, I accept that. I'm heartbroken, I wanted to make history. Josh Kelly is a class act, but I think he underestimated me a bit, there.</p><p>"Listen, it will come. I will be the first Black Irish world champion, there's no doubt about that."</p><p>After the bout, Kelly said he wants to face unified 154-pound champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis.</p><p>Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents both Kelly and Ennis, said a clash between the two in the States is now a real option.</p><p>"He's had a defence of the title and before that mandatory comes again, really you want to be looking at those big money fights and trying to roll the dice," Hearn said.</p><p>"I think that comes with 'Boots' Ennis. If I'm Josh Kelly I'm looking at the big payday out in America against 'Boots' Ennis. It's a three-belt unification fight. [WBC champion] Sebastian Fundora, all those guys."</p><p><strong>Watch Edgar Berlanga vs Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins vs Ricardo Salas, in New York, live on <em>Sky Sports</em><em><em> Action </em></em>and<em><em> Sky Sports Main Event</em> </em>from 10pm, Sunday. <a href="http://stream with no contract on NOW">Stream boxing and more sport contract-free with NOW.</a></strong></p>
Source: Sky Sports — This article was automatically imported from the source. Read full article at original source →
