Janibek Alimkhanuly and Andrei Mikhailovich square off ahead of their ultimately canceled IBF/WBO middleweight title fight on July 13 in Las Vegas. Photo credit: Mikey Williams, Top Rank
Janibek Alimkhanuly had words for his promoter after learning the fate of his next title defense.
No Limit Boxing topped an IBF scholarship hearing with $1,000 for Alimkhanuly’s mandatory title defense against Andrei Mikhailovich. Tuesday’s hearing saw No Limit, Mikhailovich’s promoter in Australia, put up $351,000, topping Top Rank’s bid of $350,000.
Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 knockouts) was stunned when he learned the result.
“I have no words,” said The Ring’s no. 1-rated middleweight exclaimed on X. “What is this @toprank @BobArum @CarlMoretti?”
I have no words! what is it @trboks @BobArum @CarlMoretti ? https://t.co/8A7vqpaSel
— Janibek Alimkhanuly (@kazaqstyle) September 3, 2024
Alimkhanuly stands to earn a whopping $228,150 from his 65 percent of the winning bid as the defending titleholder. The remaining 35 percent ($122,850) goes to Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs) as the mandatory challenger.
The fight was previously slated for a July 13 ESPN show at Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was canceled before the pre-fight weigh-in when Alimkhanuly was hospitalized due to dehydration.
Consequently, Mikhailovich was left without a fight. Alimkhanuly was subsequently summoned by the WBO – whose title he also holds – to provide medical proof of what led to his dehydration and whether he was fit to resume his reign.
He is now pressed with a choice to make, given the low-end guaranteed salary for his services.
Alimkhanuly has not fought since unifying the IBF and WBO middleweight titles. The feat came in a one-sided, sixth-round stoppage of Vincenzo Gualtieri, who was 21-0-1 at the time of their Oct. 14 unification bout. Alimkhanuly won the IBF belt and defended his WBO title for the third time.
Mikhailovich will be entering his first career title fight one way or another. It will either come against Alimkhanuly or for the vacant IBF middleweight title against a designated challenger.
