Friday, October 4, 2024

Boxing Challenge: Alimhhanuly toys with Mikhailovich

   The build-up for the fight for the IBF middleweight title was fierce complete with threats to kill the opponent across the ring.

It didn't play out that way, instead, we saw one of the more vicious beatings in recent years as Janibek Alimkahnuly brutalized Andrei Mikhailovich for nine rounds in Sydney, Australia to retain his IBF title.

Mikhailovich landed a sharp right hand near the end of round one and it appeared that he was going to perhaps test the champion, who defended his IBF title and not his WBO version, on the evening.

It was round two that will be memorable as Alimkhanuly pounded Mikhailovich. On several occasions, the fight could have been stopped if the champion turned up the pace but instead, he would gesture and back off the gas, only to return to the attack to rip the challenger further.

As it was, the second round knockdown was the only one until the ninth, when Alimkhanuly closed the evening as the rounds in between were Alimkhnauly landing at will, Mikhailovich fighting bravely and landing the occasional right hand and little else.

Alimkhanuly called for fellow champions, Carlos Adames (WBC) and Erislandy Lara (WBA). However, both fight for PBC and neither would bring the attention or purse that would make PBC likely to work with Top Rank for a unification fight.

The best fight in the division would pair Alimkhanuly against unbeaten power puncher Hamrah Sheeraz, which could happen as Top Rank (Alimkhanuly) and Sheeraz (Queensbury) work together often.

Boxing Challenge

Ramon Malpica: 136 Pts  (1)

TRS: 128 Pts  (2)

Vince Samano: 75 Pts (0) 




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