The long-awaited fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Andrei Mikhilovich may finally have a date and venue, according to a World Boxing News source with knowledge of the situation.
The middleweight fighters were first scheduled to fight on July 13 at Pearl Concert Theater inside Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
However, after Janibek botched his weight cut, the bout was scrapped at the last minute. The Top Rank show went on, albeit with Raymond Muratella and Tevin Farmer in the main event.
More recently, IBF mandated that the fight go to purse bids, with No Limit Boxing — Tszyu’s promoter — beating Top Rank, who represent Janibek, by the slimmest of margins; $351,000 to $350,000.
This means that No Limit can now host the fight, instead of Top Rank. And, according to a source with knowledge of the bout, No Limit is considering hosting Alimkhanuly vs Mikhilovich on the same card as Murtazaliev vs Tszyu at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando on October 19.
World Boxing News reported the scoop four weeks ago that Tszyu’s challenge of the IBF title at 154 pounds would take place next month in Florida. Now, we have credible information that the Premier Boxing Champions card on Prime Video (non PPV) could be fortified by the addition of the unified middleweight match.
No Limit will hope that the double feature will maximize interest on two of their most prominent clients — Tszyu, who is one of the most exciting fighters at 154 pounds, and Mikhilovich, a rising 160 pounder who’ll compete for the first time outside Australia when he challenges Alimkhanuly for the IBF and WBO titles.
WBN obtained the information around the time Alimkhanuly posted last week on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter that he’d “already started training.”
He added: “The fight is coming soon!”
If Janibek posted the comment on the day he started preparing for the Mikhilovich fight, it would provide him with a 43-day (six week) camp.
It is unclear, as of yet, if there will be any more No Limit boxers competing on the Premier Boxing Champions card, or if PBC athletes will make up the remaining spots at the event.
It is the fifth PBC on Prime Video event of the year but the first that will air as a regular card, rather than PPV.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing News Lead Writer, a 2 x Sports Journalist of the Year finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
