Hamzah Sheeraz: British WBO super middleweight world champion uses Eden Hazard inspiration

There was a particular moment that sparked Hamzah Sheeraz’s boxing career into life.

As an apprentice electrician who stepped away from the sport after missing out on the Commonwealth Youth championships, Briton Sheeraz found himself fixing bulbs and sockets in former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard’s apartment.

Feeling inspired standing in the middle of the flashy London accommodation, Sheeraz, 27, was back in the gym within two weeks and was signed with Frank Warren’s Queensberry on his 18th birthday.

After winning the WBO super-middleweight title in May, Sheeraz is gearing up for a first defence against Simon Zachenhuber on Anthony Joshua’s undercard on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

But first, Sheeraz reminisces on the lightbulb moment a decade ago.

“I was working in Eden Hazard’s apartment fixing his bulbs and sockets and my ego or goals and aspirations kicked in, so I went back to the gym,” Sheeraz told BBC Sport.

“There was nothing lined up for me. It wasn’t like I had such a good amateur career and it was going to kick off. I just wanted to go back to the gym and see what happened.

“After two weeks, I was asked to be a sparring partner for some professionals at the time and I did well. I hung in there and they asked me to go over to Spain to do some camps with them.

“They were signed with Frank Warren at the time and by word of mouth, they trusted my coach at the time, Dominic Negus, to be signed to Frank.

“I didn’t meet him for the first two or three years. I remember when I first met him, I thought it was crazy. Here we are today.”