Sheeraz Vacates WBO Belt Rather Than Face Janibek

Hamzah Sheeraz has relinquished his WBO super middleweight title rather than face mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly, the WBO confirmed Friday.

ESPN reports that Sheeraz chose to vacate the belt instead of fulfilling the ordered defence against Alimkhanuly. The move leaves the WBO 168-pound division without a champion and raises questions about Sheeraz's immediate plans.

Sheeraz had won the vacant WBO strap in his most recent outing but now walks away from the sanctioning body rather than meet the Kazakh contender. Alimkhanuly, a former middleweight titleholder, had been lined up as the mandatory.

The WBO is expected to announce next steps for the vacant title in the coming days. Sheeraz's team has not yet commented on which direction the unbeaten Brit will pursue next.