Janibek on Mikhailovich: “I could have finished him in the 2nd round”

Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) easily retained his IBF and WBO middleweight titles with a ninth-round knockout of heavily overrated rookie challenger Andrei Mikhailovich (21-1, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Star in Sydney , Australia.

After the match, the 31-year-old Janibek said that he carried Mikhailovich and that he was able to knock him out in the second round. Indeed, Janibek seemed to loosen up after backing Mikhailovich to the canvas with some hard punches in round two.

He hurt Mikhailovich in rounds three and four, but did not go for the finish. One could see Janibek retreating each time, allowing Mikhailovich to stay in the fight. It almost seemed like Janibek showed mercy to the 26-year-old because it was too easy and not a fair fight.

Mikhailovich was completely outmatched and repeatedly rocked by Janibek’s hard punches. In hindsight, the IBF and WBO did Mikhailovich no favors, giving him a high ranking despite his lack of experience against world class fighters. Mikhailovich had never fought a top 15 level fighter before facing Janibek, and it showed.

Mikhailovich made adjustments after the fourth round by pressuring Janibek, fighting close and not allowing him to gain leverage on his shots. Still, he worked through the champion, face bleeding and looking exhausted.

Janibek hurt Mikhailovich with hard left hands in the eighth and ninth, causing his legs to wobble. Finally, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight in the ninth round after Mikhailovich was knocked into the ropes. The time of the interruption was at 2:45.

After the fight, Janibek said he wants to fight a unification match next at 160 against champions Erislandy Lara and Carlos Adames. It’s doubtful either of those guys will take him up on his offer for a fight, because he’s a dangerous puncher, and neither of those fighters fight at the level he showed tonight.

“I could have finished him in the second round, but I didn’t because I had to work a little bit,” Janibek told the media after the fight, making it clear that he wore Mikhailovich. “He changed his tactics, and I had to adapt to his next tactic. I actually liked what I did.

“He spoke a lot during the press conferences. I just told myself I was going to bring him some pain. So knocking him out in the second round would not be very easy. So, I carried him, and as you can see, he got a lot of punishment for what he did.

“I didn’t feel his punches coming. So I handled it very well without doubt. I know both fighters. I sparred with Adames, so I know him. I have my tactics for both fighters, and I’m ready as soon as they’re ready,” Janibek said when asked about his interest in fighting WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames and WBA champion Erislandy Lara in a unification bout.