Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz fight to draw, Adames retains WBC title

Carlos Adames still has the WBC middleweight title after a draw with Hamzah Sheeraz.

Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz fought to a 12-round draw today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Adames retaining his WBC middleweight title.

Adames (24-1-1, 18 KO) won one card wide, 118-110, which went against what most anyone saw, while Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KO) took a narrow card of 115-114, and the third scorecard was even, 114-114.

Bad Left Hook unofficially scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 for Sheeraz, whose first crack at a world title did not result in any gold, but also didn’t come with a first professional defeat.

Sheeraz, 25, did appear in control early, working behind his height and long jab, but the 30-year-old Adames wasn’t being dominated, either, and certainly found his way into the fight as things progressed.

Sheeraz at times appeared to be a fighter with no “Plan B,” as Adames made adjustments and Sheeraz kept at the same pace and approach pretty much throughout the fight.

Sheeraz was the betting and pundit favorite going into the bout, but the young middleweight contender obviously fell short of what he hoped to achieve here, and will likely look back on the fight and kick himself for not being more aggressive a little more often, as when he did look to impose his will, he had some success.

A rematch would seem likely, as long as it’s what Turki Alalshikh wants to see, and there is certainly some unfinished business. If the two meet again, do you favor the younger Sheeraz to switch things up and come out on top, or will Adames have seen enough to perhaps start more confidently — not that the card he won suggests he was ever anything but in control?