Safe Route to Canelo? Fans See Hamzah Sheeraz Vs. Simon Zachenhuber Fight as a Defense

The backlash centered on Zachenhuber's details. While the German bounced back from his upset loss against Pawel August by stopping Armin Ajrulai on June 27, fans aren't buying that a quick win guarantees a world title shot. To make things even more complicated, August is booked on the same July 25 card against Jacob Bank, meaning the winner of the head-to-head meeting is stuck in a non-title fight while the loser gets a belt crack.

Fans have also pointed to Zachenhuber's lack of visible wins, saying he has spent his career fighting largely under the radar in Germany against inferior opposition. Some have questioned why competitors such as Bank were not considered instead.

Many boxing fans see this matchup as a calculated move to keep Sheeraz undefeated and secure his status as a future cash cow contender for Canelo Alvarez. As the British champion has been calling out to Canelo, risking his unblemished record against a dangerous opponent in his first defense makes little business sense when a big payday is on the line.

The backlash highlights the shallow depth of the current 168-pound world. With the exception of Canelo Alvarez and a few top names like Christian Mbilli, Jaime Munguia, and Edgar Berlanga, the super middleweight division has declined significantly. This lack of elite depth makes it easy for competitors with thin records to find themselves ranked in the top 10 of the judging organization.

Sheeraz now has a chance to prove the critics wrong. A good performance would silence the criticism, but many fans are already looking at his first title defense as a carefully managed step towards a bigger payday against Canelo than the toughest fight there is.