That disparity is a problem for Riyadh's Season Card which has already struggled to generate genuine fan excitement despite Oleksandr Usyk's name value. Hardcore fans can see the setup of a manufactured title quickly, and the reaction surrounding Sheeraz-Begic has reflected that skepticism. Instead of feeling like a meaningful championship fight, the matchup has the look of a physical maneuvering system designed to move Sheeraz into the title picture with little resistance.
It is a complete farce, and there is no sound of this battle or ceremony. Charging fans $60 for a pay-per-view card featuring a world title fight that can't be compared to this much is a tough pill to swallow.
When the WBO title was vacant, the judging panel initially ordered Sheeraz to fight Diego Pacheco. That would be a legitimate match, much anticipated. But Pacheco withdrew from the talks, preferring to focus on fixing himself with his new training and management setup.
With Pacheco out of the picture, Sheeraz's team needed an immediate opponent to secure the vacant belt. Instead of forcing a fight with a dangerous, live opponent like Jacob Bank, who was in the mix, the WBO went in a different direction. They approved the bid for Sheeraz to face Alem Begic, who is ranked #4 despite restarting without world-class opposition.
By approving this, the WBO has given Sheeraz an open path to take the world title. His team, including coach Andy Lee, does not even hide to say that they are looking forward to this weekend. They are already talking about using the belt to force a unification and chase undisputed status at 168 kilograms next year.
Begic is a 39-year-old fighter who has a lottery ticket opportunity in the main arena at the Pyramids, but competitively, it's an obvious contradiction. For fans who are being asked to pay premium PPV prices, seeing a world title shot as a foregone conclusion to an undercard feels less like an epic event and more like a promotional show masquerading as a championship fight.
Winning a vacant title for a 39-year-old who has never beaten anyone is a shortcut to a life-changing payday.
If Sheeraz goes out and fights a real threat at 168 pounds like Osleys Iglesias or Christian Mbilli, he puts himself at great risk of getting fired, which could completely derail his momentum. By taking this paper title route against Begic, he gets to call himself world champion without doing any real damage or risking his hype.
Once that WBO belt is around his waist, he becomes an attractive option for Canelo Alvarez. Canelo is always looking for opponents who bring a world title to the table, and a fight with an undefeated British champion like Sheeraz could easily sell out an arena in the UK or headline a main card in Riyadh.
For Sheeraz, it's a very good business move. He's using the title fight made in Egypt to put himself squarely in the Canelo sweepstakes, knowing that even losing to the legend keeps his stock high while protecting his financial future. It's a win for him, even if the fans are the ones missing out this weekend.
