Hamzah Sheeraz insists he has a point to prove when he faces Jez Smith on Saturday night.
Sheeraz (14-0, 10 KOs) fights for the first time since his controversial win over Bradley Skeete in December, where he connected with punches after he had floored him in the eighth round, before scoring a stoppage in the next round.
There were calls for the unbeaten 22-year-old to be disqualified for his actions and as a result he admits he is looking to put on an improved display on the undercard of David Avanesyan’s European welterweight title defence against Oskari Metz at the SSE Arena, live on BT Sport.
“This fight ain’t a case of just getting the win,” Sheeraz told proboxing-fans.com at Thursday’s press conference.
“It’s a case of getting the win and getting the win in good fashion and look good doing it because of my last fight.
“So, if anything my last performance ain’t really helped me pressure wise, even though I don’t really find it much pressure.
“But we’re here now, that’s done, [on] Saturday night I’ve got a tough operator in front of me and I’ve got to get the job done.”
Asked how he dealt with the criticism from the fight, Sheeraz added: “The first few days, I wouldn’t say tough, but it was a bit like wow.
“Because, I was being called everything under the sun.
“I find it quite amusing to be fair, because I don’t take anything to heart, but listen at the end of the day this is boxing, this is the sport we’re involved in.
“Everyone’s got an opinion, everyone’s entitled to their opinion and I’ve just got to keep being me.”
Sheeraz steps up in weight to 160lbs after spending his 14-fight career at super welterweight.
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Smith has won two of his last six fights, but has put up spirited efforts against the likes of Kerman Lejarraga, Caoimhin Agyarko and Bradley Rea albeit in defeat and the Slough native, who trains with Ricky Funez in Los Angeles, is expecting a stern assignment against an opponent who has had more time to prepare than usual.
“Very tough, very tough [fighter.
“It’s the first time he’s actually had a camp for a fight, so we’re expecting the best version of him to be fair and he’s always in exciting fights, which is a great thing for me.
“It’s going to be an explosive fight, we’ll both meet in the middle of the ring and see who the best man is on the night and I’m sure inshallah it will be me.”
Watch the full interview with Hamzah Sheeraz below:
