Coach Buddy McGirt says he believes Terence Crawford can choose to fight the IBF and WBO mid -weight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly as he moves to 160. Buddy has trained alimkhnuly in the past and is well familiar with his style and the defects in his game.
Crawford’s middleweight target
Crawford talked about the possibility of 160 after his 12-round victory over the undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13. He did not say who he would fight against, but he would probably make the effort to win his sixth divisional world title.
The other middleweight champions
- Carlos Adames: WBC
- Erislandy Lara: WBA
If Crawford would choose 42-year-old Lara as the champion he faces, he would receive a lot of criticism from fans. Any victory would have a spiritual star in the minds of fans.
Terence has already received partial credit for his victory over Canelo of many fans, because they believe that the 35-year-old Mexican star shows signs of decline from his long 20-year professional career.
A calculated opportunist?
Crawford is considered by those fans as a Stupid, Calculated OpportunisWith the advantage of a worn alvarez in the same way he used on the car accident-awakened Errol Spence in their battle on July 29, 2023. Spence looked like a caricature of his former self in his two battles after his awful October 10, 2019, car accident in Dallas, Texas.
McGirt mentions that Crawford’s competitive nature will make him challenge to challenge Janibek (17-0, 12 COs) because he considers him the best in the division. Many fans also consider Janibek as the number 1 middle weight in the section.
Buddy does not think that Alimkhanuly, 32, is ready to fight against a man like Crawford because he does not have the ‘antidote’ against an error in his game that the Nebraska native would use. He does not see the defect, but it is probably the slow feet and the tendency to wait for his opponents to come to him. He does not offend.
A spider awaiting prey
The southpaw Janibek is like a spiderWait for his prey to come to him so that he can hit with his powerful shots. McGirt thinks Crawford will control the series by using his reach and movement to the Outbox Alimkhanuly to defeat him.
“Terence, because he is so competitive, he wants to fight the best. The greater the challenge, the better he is. Janibek is the best at 160 now, ‘said coach Buddy McGirt Millcity Boxing On which champion does he believe that Terence Crawford will target as he moves to 160.
It would make more sense for Crawford to choose Janibek if he decided to move to 160 to win another belt. However, the outcome of the fight is not as sure as McGirt believes.
The Southpaw Alimkhanuly is a big puncher, and he does not have the endurance problems that Canelo showed in his fight against Crawford. So, if Terence no longer offers offense and aggressiveness, he can lose against January.
It is natural that the controversial judgment does not come to the game. Crawford would be the A side in the fight, which means any close rounds can go in his favor. Some fans noted that Crawford gained the benefit of the doubt in the standings done in his fighting against Canelo and Israil Madrimov. In other words, there were rounds in Crawford’s favor, despite Canelo and Madrimov who landed the harder, cleaner shots.
The ‘antidote’ problem
“I don’t think he will beat Terence now. If he has trained him, he will not beat Terence. You should have the anecdote for the problem, ‘McGirt says, talking about Janibek Alimkhanuly who has a mistake in his game that will use Crawford.
Again, the mistake Buddy refers to is the slow feet of January and his bad habit of waiting for his opponents to come to him. His feet are probably just as slow as Canelo’s, and he seems to walk in wet cement sometimes. Against a car like Crawford, Janibek can have problems.
McGirt mentions that Alimkhanuly did not face the high -level opposition during his nine -year career to prepare him for a fighter like Crawford. So it would be a big step in class for the IBF and WBO mid -weight champion if the fight was to take place next.
Last updated on 09/23/2025
