The WBO has ordered super-middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz to negotiate a mandatory title defense against unbeaten former unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
The two camps have 20 days from the WBO’s August 14 resolution to reach an agreement. If they do not, the championship committee can order a purse bid.
“ZHANIBEK ALIMKHANULY IS HEREBY DESIGNATED AS THE MANDATORY CHALLENGER,” the WBO resolution states.
‼️ The WBO have now officially ordered Hamzah Sheeraz to defend his WBO super middleweight title against Janibek Alimkhanuly next, designating Janibek as their mandatory challenger over Jacob Bank.
The parties have 20 days to reach an agreement, or purse bids will be scheduled. pic.twitter.com/Xkneenn0RP
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) August 14, 2026
The WBO Selected Alimkhanuly Over Jacob Bank
Jacob Bank’s representatives argued that his regional-title activity and victories over William Scull and Tyron Zeuge supported his claim. Alimkhanuly’s side relied on his undefeated record, former WBO middleweight reign, five successful WBO title defenses and unification victory over Vincenzo Gualtieri.
The committee also noted that Alimkhanuly’s suspension ended on July 10, 2026, leaving no current regulatory bar to his designation as mandatory challenger.
Sheeraz addressed the earlier WBO order from his own account in 2024, saying the matchup would come one step at a time:
I’ve been saying this for ages. It got ordered after I beat ammo Williams. One step at a time IA 🙏👊🏼
— Hamzah Sheeraz (@sheeraz_hamzah) November 20, 2024
Queensberry also shared their faceoff and called for the fight:
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Hamzah Sheeraz 🥊
We are ready to make it happen 😤
Later that year, Sheeraz told Alimkhanuly: “Shake my hands. I’ll get my business done against Carlos Adames, and we’ll make it happen and unify. As simple as that.”
Here’s some news for you, dear fans 😁
Sheeraz Now Faces A 20-Day Negotiation Window
Sheeraz holds a 23-0-1 professional record. He moved to 168 pounds after drawing with Adames, stopped Edgar Berlanga, won the vacant WBO title and most recently defeated Simon Zachenhuber by majority decision.
Alimkhanuly is 17-0. The Kazakh southpaw previously held the WBO and IBF middleweight titles and is now positioned to challenge Sheeraz at super middleweight if the camps complete a deal or a promoter wins the purse bid. MiddleEasy recently covered another major WBO purse-bid decision involving Devin Haney and Keyshawn Davis.
