Janibek To Go Through With Mandatory Bout Despite Lost Purse Bid

Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) has decided to proceed with his IBF-ordered mandatory title defense against undefeated challenger Andrei Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs). The decision comes despite Alimkhanuly’s promoter, Top Rank, narrowly losing the purse bid to Mikhailovich’s promoter, No Limit Boxing, in a highly competitive bidding process. No Limit Boxing secured the fight with a winning bid of $351,000, edging out Top Rank by a mere $1,000, as Top Rank’s bid was $350,000.

While there is still some uncertainty about the date and location of the bout, it could land on the October 19 PBC on Prime card, headlined by the IBF Junior Middleweight Title clash between Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev. No Limit Boxing, which also promotes Tszyu, has a strong relationship with PBC, making this a possible option for the undercard.

Originally, the fight between Alimkhanuly and Mikhailovich was scheduled for July 13, but the bout was canceled after Alimkhanuly was briefly hospitalized two days before the fight due to complications from a “bad weight cut,” as confirmed by sources close to Brunch Boxing. In the weeks following the cancellation, Top Rank encouraged Alimkhanuly to consider vacating his middleweight titles and moving up to the super middleweight division, where more lucrative fight opportunities await.

Despite the push from his promoter, Alimkhanuly was adamant about staying in the middleweight division, with his eyes set on becoming the undisputed champion. “I don’t look back! If someone wants me to look back, they are wrong! I have a goal. This goal is in front of me! So only forward!” Alimkhanuly declared defiantly after expressing his frustration over Top Rank losing the purse bid.

His journey to undisputed status begins with defending his WBO and IBF titles against Mikhailovich. The other two belts in the division are currently held by Carlos Adames (WBC) and Erislandy Lara (WBA). Lara is scheduled to defend his title this Saturday against Danny García on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga PBC on Prime PPV event. Adames, who is recovering from an undisclosed injury, is expected to return to the ring before the end of the year.