WBO orders Sheeraz to face Alimkhanuly

WBO have ordered super-middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KO) to face former unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) next.

WBO announced on August 14 that fighters have 20 days to make deal before purse bids are ordered.

Sheeraz won the WBO World title beating Alem Begic by KO in round two in May this year. He defended the title on July 25, defeating Simon Zachenhuber by majority decision.

Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) has not fought since April 2025 when he defended his IBF and WBO middleweight belts.

In December last year, four days before a scheduled bout with Erislandy Lara, it was announced Alimkhanuly failed a drug test. Alimkhanuly returned a positive result for meldonium.

Alimkhanuly denied any wrongdoing.

In February, the WBO suspended him for a year but allowed him to keep the belt.

A month later, the IBF stripped him of their title. The WBO have now confirmed that Alimkhanuly's suspension has been "terminated" as of July 10.

Super middleweight contender Jacob Bank had also pushed to be named Sheeraz's mandatory challenger. Bank (20-0, 11 KOs) of Denmark had looked set to face Sheeraz next, with both fighters entertaining the match-up following their wins on the same card last month.

However, the WBO has ruled that Alimkhanuly be Sheeraz's mandatory challenger over Bank having cleared him to fight again.