- Sheeraz came up just short in his first-ever world title fight in Saudi Arabia
- Videos have surfaced on social media of Al-Sheikh speaking to Sheeraz
Turki Al-Sheikh has become the most powerful man in boxing and now he’s not just setting up the fights – he’s cornering them.
The sport’s chief fight maker presided over what, talent-wise, might have been the greatest card in boxing history at Riyadh in the Last Crescendo, but eagle-eyed fans spotted his ringside interaction with Hamza Sheeraz during his world title fight.
Sheeraz challenged Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title with the fight scored a controversial majority draw.
One judge had it 115-114 for Sheeraz, another scored it 118-110 for Adames while a third had it even at 114-114.
With two rounds to go, most people had Sheeraz trailing. His own corner told him he needed a knockout to win the contest and Al-Sheikh had some advice of his own.
Making his way over to Sheeraz’s side, Al-Sheikh could seemingly be heard telling him ‘you’re losing [by] two points’.
Fans think they spotted what Turki Al-Sheikh seemingly told Hamza Sheeraz during his world title fight
The Brit earned a draw against Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title in Saudi Arabia
Some fans have interpreted that as His Excellency knowing the scorecards, but there’s nothing to suggest that was the case. Having watched from ringside, he may have just been offering his opinion.
Sheeraz did have a big 11th round to help claw back the contest and it emerged after the result that the 25-year-old broke his hand during the battle.
Elsewhere on the card, the two fighters that stepped in as last-minute replacements were both stopped in their respective outings.
Josh Padley went nine rounds with three-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson on four days’ notice, leaving his job as an electrician to rise to the challenge.
The American would drop him three times in the ninth round with body shots causing the Brit’s corner to throw in the towel.
Martin Bakole cut short a holiday to replace Daniel Dubois in the heavweight duel against Joseph Parker.
Weighing in at 310lbs – some 30lbs above his usual fighting weight – the Congo bruiser tried his best to walk Parker down, but instead walked onto a huge right hand from the Kiwi resulting in a second round knockout.
