The 29-year-old puts up a tenacious fight and earns the crowd’s respect.
Professional boxer Simon Zachenhuber did not capitalize on his unexpected world title shot to claim a WBO victory, but he put up an outstanding fight. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the super middleweight from Bavaria lost by a narrow points decision late Saturday night to the still-undefeated champion Hamzah Sheeraz (Great Britain). It was Zachenhuber’s second loss in his 31st professional bout.
The 29-year-old from Erding held his own excellently in the early rounds, but then repeatedly took the grueling right-hand blows from his clearly favored opponent. Starting in the fifth round, he began to falter, yet proved to be very tenacious and earned the respect of the crowd. “You’re going to have to knock him out!” his trainer, Conny Mittermeier, shouted before the final round—but it didn’t happen.
Zachenhuber, who became known to an audience unfamiliar with combat sports in 2021 as a contestant on the RTL entertainment show “Let’s Dance,” had only secured his shot at the world title a few weeks ago. He “said yes right away, without thinking twice,” the “Matador” reported to DAZN ahead of the fight: “It’s a dream that’s now coming true.”
The former kickboxer accepted his role as the underdog but said defiantly: “I’m going to go on the offensive, go full throttle, and do everything I can to win this fight. It’s never been a good idea to underestimate anyone.” Sheeraz fought in a surprisingly monotonous manner.
Following that, former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua will make his comeback. The Briton is the favorite against Kristian Prenga of Albania. Joshua (36) is under close scrutiny, as this is his first fight since the tragic car accident in Nigeria in December 2025, in which two friends and members of his staff lost their lives. Joshua survived the crash without life-threatening injuries.
The fight in Saudi Arabia is Joshua’s first step in his renewed attempt to return to the world’s elite. A highly anticipated matchup awaits in November when Joshua faces former world champion Tyson Fury in the “Battle of Britain.”