Texas middleweight Austin Williams believes he has been written off ahead of his Saturday clash with Hamzah Sheeraz in Saudi Arabia.
They meet as part of the Frank Warren-Eddie Hearn “5 vs 5” bill in Riyadh, and Warren is brimming with confidence in his fighter, Sheeraz – so much so that Warren has made him his team captain, meaning a win earns the Queensberry team four points.
Sheeraz is 19-0 (13 KOs) and 6-foot-3, with many tipping the 25-year-old for the top.
Matchroom’s Williams, however, hopes to dampen the enthusiasm of those supporting Sheeraz.
The 6-foot southpaw from Houston is 16-0 (11 KOs) and looking to win big.
“I feel like I’m being very underestimated by these guys, and that’s OK. I’m actually looking at that as my superpower in this fight,” he said at today’s grand arrivals.
“I’m happy that Frank has the faith in Hamzah that he has – that makes our fight a lot more valuable for the team, and I’m excited for that, to go and take those four points from Matchroom.”
Williams last fought in February, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Armel Mbumba-Yassa in Las Vegas, while Sheeraz blitzed Welsh veteran Liam Williams in a round a week later.
This is the final eliminator for the newly minted WBC champion Carlos Adames, who will defend his title on June 15 against Terrell Gausha.
“One win away [from a world title fight],” said Williams. “I didn’t do boxing for popularity or money; I came in it for greatness, and to be one fight away from the middleweight championship of the world is everything.
“I’ve been a middleweight since the beginning, I’ve been disciplined to stay there, and for this to be right there on the horizon is a dream come true.”
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