Janibek Alimkhanuly celebrates after stopping Danny Dignum for the WBO interim middleweight title at Resorts World Las Vegas on May 21, 2022 in Las Vegas. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
It wasn’t that long ago that IBF and WBO title holder Janibek Alimkhanuly was considered the future of the middleweight division.
The 31-year-old Kazakh southpaw was widely seen as the successor to compatriot Gennadiy Golovkin, the last great 160-pounder who retired two years ago. But the lack of top competition in the division has left Alimkhanuly with little choice but to face all comers as he waits for a rivalry that will cement his name in the public’s mind.
Next up for Alimkhanuly is Andrei Mikhailovich, a name little known outside his native New Zealand and neighboring Australia. That’s not to say the enigmatic 26-year-old can’t fight. He clearly can. And he firmly believes that this is his time to shine.
The fight was initially scheduled to take place on July 13 at Palms Casino in Las Vegas, but it was canceled at the eleventh hour after Alimkhanuly was hospitalized with dehydration following a heavy weight cut.
Complicating matters for Alimkhanuly, the rescheduled bout will now take place on October 4 at The Star in Sydney, Australia after Mikhailovich’s promoter No Limit won the purse bid with a bid of $351,000. Alimkhanuly’s promoter Top Rank $350,000 bid.
That prompted Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) to take to social media and post on X: “I have no words. What is this @toprank @BobArum @CarlMoretti?”
Alimkhanuly, ranked No. 1 by The Ring at 160 pounds, has since presented a calmer front, insisting he has no problem traveling to Sydney to box.
“In the Olympic Games in Sydney, two Kazakh boxers won gold. Bekzat Sattarkhanov and Yermakhan Ibraimov inspired many Kazakhs. I grew up with a dream to glorify my country like them,” Alimkhanuly said in a recent press release.
“I am very happy that I will be boxing in Sydney. I want to show the world my flag again in Sydney, like our Olympic champions did in 2000. The fight with Andrei is very important for me. Because he is an official contender for my title.
“He is like a cloud to me now. I need to quickly get rid of the cloud to see the sun. Everyone knows and understands that he is easy work for me. I will knock him out very quickly!”
From Mikhailovich’s perspective, everything falls into place. While Alimkhanuly recovered from his illness, Mikhailovich practiced throughout and continued to sharpen his tools. So confident is Mikhailovich that he predicts an early stoppage victory.
“I live in the present, but I certainly haven’t forgotten the past,” said Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs), who is currently unrated by The Ring. “I respect him as the champion, but I know he doesn’t respect me. That’s why I look forward to taking absolutely everything from him.
“I will write my name in the history books along with Joseph Parker and Maselino Masoe as a world champion. This is my destiny, this is my everything. I will stop at nothing to make sure that the world remembers the name Andrei Mikhailovich.”
There is little to gain but much to lose for Alimkhanuly in this battle. Should he defeat Mikhailovich, many people will say that he was expected. If he struggles, let alone loses, his stock will take a hit. In the fickle world of boxing, where perfection is expected 100% of the time, few will consider that he had to travel halfway around the globe or his apparent difficulties in getting his large frame down to the 160-pound weight limit, which still to say his shaky relationship with his promoter. All they will remember is his actions.
And there lies the rub. Will Mikhailovich get Alimkhanuly at just the right time, or will the dual title holder prove again why he is the class of the division?
Friday night we will find out.
The Alimkhanuly vs Mikhailovich match will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the US, Sky Sports in the UK and Kayo Sports in Australia.
