10/02/2024
Editor’s Note: The WBO has announced that their middleweight title WILL be on the line in tomorrow’s Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich bout. However, the bout is still subject to the IBF second-day weigh-in rule. You can read the official ruling below.
On October 4, the WBO and IBF Middleweight Champion Janibek Alimkhanuly will defend his IBF Middleweight title against the undefeated challenger Andrei Mikhailovich. This fight was previously scheduled to happen on July 13, but Janibek was forced to pull out a day before the fight due to dehydration.
Originally a voluntary, the IBF decided to make it a mandatory after the cancellation. The fight went to purse bid which no limit won by outbidding Top Rank by $1,000.00. Mikhailovich and his team decided they only wanted to fight for the IBF championship which enforces a rehydration limit. Even though the IBF Championship is the the only title on the line for Mikhailovich in this bout, Janibek loses both titles in defeat. The WBO belt will become vacant.
The Janibek-Mikhailovich bout headlines an early-morning (evening in Australia) card that will be streamed live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 5AM EST.
The EzRaw Report Card gives you the Brunch Boxing perspective on how these cards stack up on paper.
Janibek Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) vs. Andrei Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs)
Photo Credit: Top Rank
This is a no win situation for Janibek, Mikhailovich has no name. Janibek beating Mikhailovich will do nothing for his career and at best, if it’s by devastating knockout, it turns into a social media highlight reel.
The Russian-born Mikhailovich isn’t a bad fighter and could possibly make things interesting. As I watch his previous fights, I saw similarities to Carl Froch style-wise. Carl Froch was insanely strong and insanely durable. Mikhailovich has yet to prove he possesses these traits at world level.
This is clearly a fight that Top Rank had no interest in trying to make again and for good reason. Janibek name has no value in boxing right now. The middleweight division is arguably the worst division in boxing. This was originally just a stay busy fight for Janibek to fill an open Top Rank time slot.
Fight Notes:
Zero buzz
Pre-Fight Grade: F
Mea Motu (19-0, 7 KOs) vs Shannon O’Connell (24-7-1, 12 KOs)
Photo Credit: No Limit Boxing Promotions
Also on the card, a women’s super bantamweight fight between Mea Motu and Shannon O’Connell. This is the definition of a tune up for Motu, who already has next fight set up against Ellie Scotney. In a bit of clerical error hilarity, O’Connell has a fight scheduled on BoxRec in Germany the evening before. Something tells me O’Connell will not be making the trip to Germany.
Shannon O’Connell will not go out without making an attempt to win the fight. This should be a clear win for Motu, but could see some back and forth action early.
Fight Notes:
No name value
Zero buzz
Lopsided matchup
Pre-Fight Grade: F
Final Thoughts:
This is a card for the Australian market and not one that is expecting a lot of eye balls from the United States. Janibek’s career seems to be stuck in neutral. Some could argue that the fact Top Rank has allowed another promotion to hold this fight, his career could be on the decline.
Overall Pre-Fight Event Grade: F
The Rest of the Card:
Charlie Kazzi (6-0, 2 KOs) vs. Lui Magaiva (4-6, 1 KO), 8 rounds, lightweights
Wayne Telepe (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Bashir Nassir (0-1-1), 4 rounds, lightweight
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