Alright, we’re right around the midway point of August (and I still can’t believe that kids are going back to school so soon, seriously, we used to return after Labor Day. What is happening to our country!?!?) But anyways, not much happening this weekend in boxing, but some things are being worked on for the fall. Here’s the latest ‘Friday Pee Chee Folder’ with all the recent news, notes, rumors and scuttlebutt in boxing...
MANDO
The WBO has ordered that the camps of Hamzah Sheeraz and Janibek Alimkhanuly begin negotiations for a fight. Sheeraz currently holds their super middleweight title, while Alimkhanuly held their middleweight title (along with the IBF strap). Last December, Alimkhanuly was headed to a three-belt unification bout against Erislandy Lara before he failed a pre-fight VADA test for meldonium.
WBO@WorldBoxingOrg
OFFICIAL: Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been designated Mandatory Challenger to WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Hamzah Sheeraz. 🥊 Both teams have been ordered to begin negotiations.
1:19 PM · Aug 14, 2026 · 23.7K Views
8 Replies · 21 Reposts · 53 Likes
At the end of his suspension, he made the decision not to face Denzel Bentley (who won their interim title a few months ago) and instead, chose to campaign at 168 moving forward. As for Sheeraz, he struggled in his initial title defense a few weeks back versus Simon Zachenhuber.
Now, there are those who will state that Alimkhanuly is not being punished harshly enough, and the WBO in a way is rewarding him. I can see that argument. But on the other hand, this is an intriguing fight that I’m looking forward to.
Both things can be true.
You can make an argument that those who fail drug test should face more severe sanctions, especially in an era where most champions fight no more than twice a year. On the flip side, I think many fans are starved for good fights that they’ll take anything they can get.
I fall into this category.
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