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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
In the other co-main event, Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight world title with a unanimous decision victory over William Zepeda.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The impressive victory improves Sheeraz’s record to 22-0, with one draw and 18 wins inside the distance.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Sheeraz says Alvarez – the undisputed super middleweight champion – is next in his sights.<\/p>\n
“It would be an honour to share the ring with him; it genuinely would,” Sheeraz said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“I’ll put on a good performance because that’s what it’s about, daring to be great, and I’ll do just that.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Stevenson comfortably won on all three judges’ scorecards against Zepeda to make a third defence of his WBC lightweight title.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It was a first career defeat for Mexican Zepeda, 29, whose record is now 33-1.<\/p>\n
The card was held at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, one of the show courts at Flushing Meadows, host venue of the US Open tennis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n