Hamzah Sheeraz played it too safe and that does NOT win world titles, writes JEFF POWELL – as the Brit’s fight with Carlos Adames ends in a draw

When the acid test came he was closer to the land of his fathers than his birthplace on London’s Essex borders.

Hamzah Sheeraz travelled three parts of the way towards Pakistan for the first serious examination of his potential as the future of British boxing of the British ring

With the hostilities in the Middle East on pause the flight path may have flirted within view of Gaza.

It certainly landed him in the Saudi Arabian capital where the world’s leaders have been trying to construct a peace.

Sheeraz mostly keeps his counsel about the conflict. He makes his wars in the ring. To unbeaten effect as he came to challenge WBC world middleweight champion Carlos Adames.

By far the most dangerous opponent in his fledgling career. But not full last on his big night. 

After Sheeraz’s fast start, Adames persisted and aggression kept him his title

He may have something to say about the draw which, hopefully, will be only a bump on his road. As long as he learns the stark and simple lesson of this Arabian night

That boxing man does not win world titles by left jabs alone. 

There was a body of doubt as to whether the first world title chance had come to soon.

The way he took charge of the early rounds with that long rapier left jab looked to be unpicking that argument from the get go.

The judges tired of that. They needed to see more So in the end only of them found in his favour. Narrowly by 115-114. One had it 118-110 for Adames. A gross overstatement. The other sat on the fence at 114-114.

In my book Sheeraz was three rounds ahead in no time Not until the fifth was there any sign of Adames breaking into the zone of control established by Sheeraz with his advantages of height, reach and his judgement.

Winning a world title was his priority. But safety first was not enough. Adames persisted and aggression kept him his title

Sheeraz has more more expansive skills to unfurl There were glimpses of more to come when he rocked the frustrated champion with a peach of an uppercut followed by two solid rights in the 11th

The Brit has more expansive skills that weren’t on display this time in Saudi Arabia

Boxing is a game of risk and reward and Sheerz did not take enough of the former

But big time boxing is a game of risk and reward. 

There had been none of the blood, guts and heroics of Callum Smith’s victorv over Joshua Buatsi earlier in Card Of The Century

So Adames escaped with his title. Sheeraz did not just live to fight another day. He made it his objective