British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz has withdrawn from a mandated bout against WBO number one challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly and voluntarily relinquished his WBO super-middleweight world championship. The WBO confirmed the decision Friday after Queensberry Promotions won a purse bid Thursday with $1,001,809, beating Top Rank's $850,000 offer. The fight was targeted for 28 November or 5 December in London, Birmingham, or New York.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri stated the organization respects Sheeraz's decision and will rule on the title's status Monday, September 21. Sheeraz, 27, holds a 24-0-1 record and won the title against Alem Begic in May before defending it against Simon Zachenhuber in July. Alimkhanuly's path to mandatory status was controversial: he tested positive for meldonium last December, received a one-year WBO suspension in February (while retaining the WBO middleweight title), but had the suspension terminated early in July and was installed as mandatory challenger at super-middleweight.

Sheeraz previously called the WBO's handling "disgraceful to the sport of boxing." Alimkhanuly's manager Egis Klimas mocked the withdrawal on X, claiming Sheeraz was "scared.".