Sheeraz–Janibek Clash: WBO Purse Bid Won by Frank Warren

Frank Warren has dragged Hamzah Sheeraz a step closer to a world-title shot, winning the purse bid for a WBO super-middleweight fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly for just over $1 million, edging out Top Rank’s offer of $820,000.

It is not the final bell on negotiations, but it is the moment the bout stopped being fantasy and started to feel like a schedule problem. The WBO-ordered contest now has a promoter, a pot, and the beginnings of a plan.

Warren moved quickly once the numbers were confirmed. He named London and Birmingham as leading options in the UK, with New York also firmly in the frame, and circled two dates: November 28 and December 5. Those windows now sit on the calendar like flashing lights.

The matchup itself carries intrigue. Sheeraz, the rising British star, would be stepping into the deepest waters of his career. Janibek, the technically sharp Kazakh, brings pedigree and menace, a man used to dictating terms rather than chasing them.

For now, the contracts still need signatures and the venue needs locking in. But with Queensberry beating Top Rank at the purse table, the balance of power around this fight has shifted. The question now is simple: which city gets to host the night Sheeraz and Janibek find out who really belongs at the top of the division?