Hamzah Sheeraz

==Early life==

==Early life==

Sheeraz was born on 25 May 1999 in [[Slough]] in [[Berkshire]], England into a [[British Asian]] family.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cain |first=Andrew |date=24 May 2022 |title=Important WBC International Committee activity |publisher=[[World Boxing Council]] |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/important-wbc-international-committee-activity/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |quote=Hamzah was on May 25th 1999 in Slough, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.}}</ref><ref name="towers">{{cite news |last=Simcock |first=Emily |date=27 April 2019 |title=EXCLUSIVE – Hamzah Sheeraz: "Towering above…" |publisher=boxing-social.com |url=https://boxing-social.com/interviews/exclusive-hamzah-sheeraz-towering-above/ |accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> His paternal family belongs to the [[Janjua]] clan of [[Muslim Rajputs]], originating in the village of [[Matore]], in the [[Kahuta Tehsil]] of [[Rawalpindi District]] in [[Punjab, Pakistan]].<ref name="thenews" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Janjua |first=Kabir Ahmed |date=March 21, 2022 |title=London / Kahuta; Pakistani-born British boxer Hamza Shiraz Janjua knocks out his opponent in round 2 at Wembley Arena |url=https://pothwar.com/news/2022/03/20/london-kahuta-pakistani-born-british-boxer-hamza-shiraz-janjua-knocks-out-his-opponent-in-round-2-at-wembley-arena/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318071508/https://pothwar.com/news/2022/03/20/london-kahuta-pakistani-born-british-boxer-hamza-shiraz-janjua-knocks-out-his-opponent-in-round-2-at-wembley-arena/ |archive-date=March 18, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=Pothwar News}}</ref> His father is [[Kamran Sheeraz]], a cricketer who played for [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]], while his paternal grandfather and uncle were both boxers, the latter winning ten national amateur titles for the Slough and Pinewood Star clubs.<ref name="star"<?ref>{{cite news |last=Sajad |first=Kal |title=Hamzah Sheeraz: Is the WBO European super-welterweight champion the next star of British boxing? |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/59507322 |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203090015/https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/59507322 |archive-date=3 December 2021 }}</ref><ref name="amir">{{cite news |last=Warren |first=Frank |date=7 September 2017 |title=Hamzah Sheeraz: In time, I hope to pick up the reigns from Amir Khan |publisher=worldboxingnews.com |url=https://www.worldboxingnews.com/hamzah-sheeraz-in-time-i-hope-to-pick-up-the-reigns-from-amir-khan/ |accessdate=3 June 2020}}

Sheeraz was born on 25 May 1999 in [[Slough]] in [[Berkshire]], England into a [[British Asian]] family.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cain |first=Andrew |date=24 May 2022 |title=Important WBC International Committee activity |publisher=[[World Boxing Council]] |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/important-wbc-international-committee-activity/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |quote=Hamzah was on May 25th 1999 in Slough, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.}}</ref><ref name="towers">{{cite news |last=Simcock |first=Emily |date=27 April 2019 |title=EXCLUSIVE – Hamzah Sheeraz: "Towering above…" |publisher=boxing-social.com |url=https://boxing-social.com/interviews/exclusive-hamzah-sheeraz-towering-above/ |accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> His paternal family belongs to the [[Janjua]] clan of [[Muslim Rajputs]], originating in the village of [[Matore]], in the [[Kahuta Tehsil]] of [[Rawalpindi District]] in [[Punjab, Pakistan]].<ref name="thenews" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Janjua |first=Kabir Ahmed |date=March 21, 2022 |title=London / Kahuta; Pakistani-born British boxer Hamza Shiraz Janjua knocks out his opponent in round 2 at Wembley Arena |url=https://pothwar.com/news/2022/03/20/london-kahuta-pakistani-born-british-boxer-hamza-shiraz-janjua-knocks-out-his-opponent-in-round-2-at-wembley-arena/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318071508/https://pothwar.com/news/2022/03/20/london-kahuta-pakistani-born-british-boxer-hamza-shiraz-janjua-knocks-out-his-opponent-in-round-2-at-wembley-arena/ |archive-date=March 18, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=Pothwar News}}</ref> His father is [[Kamran Sheeraz]], a cricketer who played for [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]], while his paternal grandfather and uncle were both boxers, the latter winning ten national amateur titles for the Slough and Pinewood Star clubs.<ref name="star"<?ref>{{cite news |last=Sajad |first=Kal |title=Hamzah Sheeraz: Is the WBO European super-welterweight champion the next star of British boxing? |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/59507322 |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203090015/https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/59507322 |archive-date=3 December 2021 }}</ref> Sheeraz was first directed to a gym by his uncle at the age of eight and had his first bout at 12.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/sport/boxing/boxing-sheeraz-excited-about-second-outing-1-5302282|title=Boxing: Sheeraz excited about second outing|publisher=[[Ilford Recorder]]|date=30 November 2017|accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> He went on to become a three-time finalist at the national junior championships.<ref name="towers" /> However, he became disillusioned with the sport after being overlooked for the Commonwealth Youth championships and took a year off to focus on an electrician's apprenticeship.<ref name="amir">{{cite news |last=Warren |first=Frank |date=7 September 2017 |title=Hamzah Sheeraz: In time, I hope to pick up the reigns from Amir Khan |url=https://www.worldboxingnews.com/hamzah-sheeraz-in-time-i-hope-to-pick-up-the-reigns-from-amir-khan/ |accessdate=3 June 2020 |publisher=worldboxingnews.com}}

==Amateur career==

== Amateur career ==

{{quote box | width=30em | bgcolor=#c6dbf7 | align=left | quote=I never set sights of being an Olympian, going to world amateur championships, this-that-and the other, it’s difficult to explain but I just didn’t have that much interest in it. The professional game and winning pro titles is just so much more appealing to me.|source= —Sheeraz discussing his motivations for turning pro early<ref name="FWP">{{cite web|url=https://www.frankwarren.com/fighters/hamzah-sheeraz/|title=Hamzah Sheeraz Biography|publisher=Frank Warren Promotions|accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref>}}

{{quote box | width=30em | bgcolor=#c6dbf7 | align=left | quote=I never set sights of being an Olympian, going to world amateur championships, this-that-and the other, it’s difficult to explain but I just didn’t have that much interest in it. The professional game and winning pro titles is just so much more appealing to me.|source= —Sheeraz discussing his motivations for turning pro early<nowiki><ref name="FWP"></nowiki>{{cite web |title=Hamzah Sheeraz Biography |url=https://www.frankwarren.com/fighters/hamzah-sheeraz/ |accessdate=3 June 2020 |publisher=Frank Warren Promotions}}</ref> A meeting with his then-trainer Lenny Butcher led him to come back and try his hand as a professional.<ref name="towers" />

Sheeraz was first directed to a gym by his uncle at the age of eight and had his first bout at 12.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/sport/boxing/boxing-sheeraz-excited-about-second-outing-1-5302282|title=Boxing: Sheeraz excited about second outing|publisher=[[Ilford Recorder]]|date=30 November 2017|accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> He went on to become a three-time finalist at the national junior championships.<ref name="towers" /> However, he became disillusioned with the sport after being overlooked for the Commonwealth Youth championships and took a year off to focus on an electrician's apprenticeship.<ref name="amir" /> A meeting with his then-trainer Lenny Butcher led him to come back and try his hand as a professional.<ref name="towers" />

==Professional career==

==Professional career==