Terence Crawford has decided that he won’t pay the sanctioning fees imposed by the WBC. With the millions he made against Canelo, one might think that amount is insignificant. The opposite is also true.
It’s not as if we didn’t see it coming. Terence Crawford is no longer the WBC champion at 168 pounds. However, many expected Bud to vacate the belts if he came out victorious in his clash with Alvarez. Losing the WBC belt because he didn’t pay the sanction fees? That wasn’t on everyone’s bingo card.
Anyway, it’s hard to know if Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz had bet on that. One thing’s certain, Santa Claus arrived early for those two.
Photo: Christian Mbilli et Hamzah Sheeraz
The WBC orders a fight
Mauricio Sulaiman and his organization have ordered a fight for the vacant belt. It makes sense—Mbilli is the interim champion. And well, Sheeraz is ranked second, but with Turki Al-Sheikh in his corner. Everything suggests that he would have gotten the call even if he wasn’t ranked that high.
That said, Sheeraz is no easy opponent. Many people were talking about a 50/50 fight between him and Berlanga this summer. It almost looks like Hamzah took it personally. He made short work of Edgar—and in hostile territory. We’re forced to admit that it’s Sheeraz and no one else who did the work to end up in the WBC’s number-two spot.
As for Mbilli, he’s also part of the elite. And with Crawford no longer in the picture, “Solide” is now technically the champion. There was a time when as soon as the champion vacated his title, the interim champion was automatically promoted. Whether you agree or not, that would make the most sense. Anyway, Mbilli delivered a war against Martinez in his last outing. Without a doubt, he’s looking to surf the wave of popularity that came with that fight—but this time bringing the victory with him…
Photo: East Side Boxing – Christian Mbilli vs Lester Martinez
Here, then, are the keys to victory for each boxer:
Hamzah Sheeraz
First of all, Sheeraz will obviously have the advantage in height. 6 foot 3 with a 75-inch reach is huge for a fighter in the super-middleweight division. If Sheeraz learned anything from the Netflix fight last September, it’s that Mbilli likes to be close and apply pressure. That’s what makes his fights so thrilling.
But if the Englishman wants to win this fight, he’ll have no choice but to disappoint the fans. He’d be crazy to engage in a war like Lester Martinez decided to do. However, that’s not his usual style.
Berlanga tried that tactic when he faced Sheeraz, and let me tell you—it didn’t work. Sheeraz will therefore need to use distance to his advantage and control the ring. If Christian can’t reach him, he could spend a long night throwing punches at thin air. That is exactly what Hamzah wants: for Mbilli to tire himself out, then take advantage and hurt him in the later rounds.
Photo: World Boxing Council – Hamzah Sheeraz vs Edgar Berlanga
Christian Mbilli
When we talk about Christian Mbilli, his opponents always come prepared. The problem isn’t the game plan but the execution. And given the way Christian fights, it’s hard to blame them. Keeping your composure when you’re constantly being hammered with punches for 10 or 12 rounds is much easier said than done.
And so, that’s exactly what Solide will look to do. Cut off the ring to his advantage and put Sheeraz in positions where he can’t use his reach. If he manages to bring the fight to the corners and stick to his opponent, he’ll certainly have the advantage in raw power.
But be careful—this doesn’t mean he should empty his tank in the first half of the fight! If he sticks to his usual habits and tries to get the KO too quickly, his plan may backfire. Against an opponent of Sheeraz’s caliber, he will need to be more patient and choose the right moment to place his power shots.
Photo: Boxing Scene – Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki
All you need to know is that when Christian Mbilli is in action, it’s boxing fans who win.
