HAMZAH SHEERAZ admits to indulging in one too many cheat meals after moving up in weight – despite giving his beloved Coca-Cola the KO.
Sheeraz – who stands 6ft 3in – somehow managed to shrink himself down to the 11st 6lb middleweight limit of 160lb for his first 22 fights.
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But after drawing to WBC champion Carlos Adames in February in Saudi Arabia – the Londoner has finally moved up in weight.
He debuts at super-middleweight on Saturday against New Yorker Edgar Berlanga in the Big Apple – having enjoyed a cheat meal or two.
Sheeraz told SunSport with a laugh: “I’ve been having too many!
“Listen, 168 is good, it’s a more natural weight for me but then at the same time, it’s not just like, ‘Oh, he’s going up and it’s gonna be easy to make.’
“It’s still gonna be a little difficult, not as difficult as 160, but a little difficult. So I’ve still gotta stay disciplined and keep doing what I do.”
Sheeraz admits dieting is one of the toughest challenges boxing brings – so he cherishes the time he can spend eating what he likes.
He said: “Especially when you enjoy food, it is hard.
“But then at the same time, once I go into that mode, once you’re in that mode, there’s no taking me out of it.
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“Out of camp, I’ll eat anything. My diet’s all over the place, I still train and whatnot, but when it comes to food, I’m a massive foodie.
“So out of camp, I’ll eat whatever but then as soon as I’m in camp, the flip switches.”
Sheeraz recently took his sacrifices to new heights after ditching Coca-Cola – which had been his sugary kryptonite.
He chuckled: “My substitute for it is sparkling water. It gives you the same kind of texture, same feeling, but it doesn’t do the job.
“But it’s cool, it’s cool boxing’s about sacrifices and that’s an easy sacrifice to make.”
Sheeraz – who had spent the last five years years training in Los Angeles – relocated to Ireland to link up with esteemed coach Andy Lee.
But after flying out to the New York launch press conference in May to go face to face with Berlanga – Sheeraz got one last feast.
And he just had to check out New York’s famous pizza slices for himself and reckons it could be his new favourite cheat meal.
He said: “Ever since I’ve been out here in New York, I’ve been having a pizza out here and it genuinely is different, so it’d be that.”
Sheeraz, 26, is back the city that never sleeps as he looks to put his rivalry with American hot-head Berlanga, 28, to bed.
Berlanga – who once had 16 straight first-round KOs – was beaten in a one-sided decision to Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez last September.
He has since bounced back with another first-round knock over in March and appears fired up for his hometown return to face Sheeraz.
But Sheeraz said: “Once he takes a few, once I land a few on his chin, I’m telling you, his whole demeanor will change.
“And then it’ll be an interesting fight from there because then it will turn into a lot more of a chess match than it ever was in his mind.
“But yeah, I ain’t backing down. I’m there to have a fight and I’m there to have it out.”
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