Britain's Sheeraz stops Berlanga as Stevenson retains title

Hamzah Sheeraz held the European and Commonwealth middleweight titles between 2022 and 2024

Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz made a successful step up to super middleweight with a destructive fifth-round stoppage victory against Edgar Berlanga in New York.

In the other co-main event, Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight world title with a unanimous decision victory over William Zepeda.

Sheeraz, 26, knocked Berlanga down twice in the fourth round and again at the start of the fifth to force the referee to end the fight.

The impressive victory improves Sheeraz's record to 22-0, with one draw and 18 wins inside the distance.

It was the Briton's first fight since that draw - against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames in February - after which he decided to make the step up to super middleweight.

Berlanga's record is now 23-2 after a second defeat in three fights, with March's stoppage of Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz preceded by a unanimous points defeat by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

Sheeraz says Alvarez - the undisputed super middleweight champion - is next in his sights.

"It would be an honour to share the ring with him; it genuinely would," Sheeraz said.

"One thing I can guarantee is if I do ever share the ring with Canelo, it's not going to be the case of what happened in his last fight where his opponent [William Scull] was trying to run. Even if I get knocked out, I'll stand there and trade with him.

"I'll put on a good performance because that's what it's about, daring to be great, and I'll do just that."

Meanwhile, Stevenson comfortably won on all three judges' scorecards against Zepeda to make a third defence of his WBC lightweight title.

Two judges scored the bout 118-110 and a third saw it 119-109 for the 28-year-old American, who improved his unbeaten record to 24-0 with 11 knockouts.

It was a first career defeat for Mexican Zepeda, 29, whose record is now 33-1.

The card was held at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, one of the show courts at Flushing Meadows, host venue of the US Open tennis.