Fans on social media overwhelmingly want Hamzah Sheeraz to fight David Benavidez next, following his fifth-round knockout win over Edgar Berlanga last Saturday night in Queens, New York.

Sheeraz, 26, would have to move up to 175 for a fight against WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez to happen. ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez is too big to return to the 168-lb division to fight Sheeraz.

Who Sheeraz Fights Next: Fan Choices

• David Benavidez: People want to see Hamzah take on the two-division world champion Benavidez. This fight would give Sheeraz the experience he needs to fight Canelo.
• Canelo Alvarez: A fight against the superstar Alvarez is viewed as too premature for Sheeraz. He doesn’t have the experience or the credentials to fight Canelo yet. Beating Berlanga, a fighter fans perceive as a hype job, didn’t do enough to make fans believe Hamzah is ready for Canelo.
• David Morrell: The talented Cuban put in easily the most entertaining fight of the card last night in Queens with his victory over Imam Khataev. Morrell’s technical skills and explosive punching make him an exciting choice for Hamzah.
• Jermall Charlo: There’s marginal interest in Hamzah fighting the grizzled 35-year-old ex-middleweight champion. Charlo hasn’t kept active enough with his career for him to be a viable choice.
• Chris Eubank Jr: A career-long domestic-level fighter, Eubank Jr., 35, hasn’t shown the ambition to fight world-level fighters. Other than money, Sheeraz would gain little by fighting Eubank Jr.

The real question is, would Hamzah and his promoter Frank Warren agree to fight a dangerous fighter like Benavidez? It’s doubtful. Too much risk is involved, and the outcome would likely be disastrous for Sheeraz, with him getting knocked out by Benavidez.

What About Canelo Alvarez Next?

Turki Alakshikh said he wants Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) to fight Canelo Alvarez in 2026. However, those feelings aren’t mutual with fans. They want Sheeraz to prove himself against a talented fighter.

The fans note that Berlanga was a subpar fighter with a resume built on 100% mediocre fighters. He wasn’t the kind of actual test that should lead to Hamzah getting a world title shot against the undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo.

“I suppose that’s what everyone is going to be talking about now. It’s about embracing it and not coming across as disrespectful toward Canelo,” said Hamzah Sheeraz to the media last night when asked about the talk that will come for him to fight undisputed 168-lb champion Canelo Alvarez next.

“I’m ready now,” said Hamzah about whether he’s prepared for stardom after his win over Berlanga. “I done the hard work in the gym, and I got the results tonight.”