Alimkhanuly vs. Mikhailovich: Middleweight Title Fight Set for July 13 in Las Vegas
Unified Champion Alimkhanuly Defends Titles Against Undefeated Mikhailovich
On July 13th at the Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas, Kazakhstan’s middleweight champion Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) will defend his unified WBO and IBF world titles against undefeated New Zealander Andrei Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs).
Alimkhanuly, a 2016 Olympian, has rapidly risen through the ranks, securing impressive knockout wins over former belt holders Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam in 2021. Last May, he claimed the WBO Interim middleweight title by demolishing Danny Dignum in the second round, before being elevated to full champion when Demetrius Andrade vacated the title. In his first defense, Alimkhanuly earned a unanimous decision victory over Denzel Bentley in November. Most recently, the Kazakh powerhouse blasted out Canadian contender Steven Butler in two rounds and became a unified champion in October by stopping IBF king Vincenzo Gualtieri via sixth-round TKO.
“I look forward to defending my world titles, and I must give Andrei Mikhailovich a lot of credit. The other world middleweight champions refused the challenge, and he stepped up to the plate,” Alimkhanuly stated. “On July 13 in Las Vegas, I will show the world ‘Qazaq Style’ again. The road to undisputed continues, and Mikhailovich is in my way.”
Mikhailovich, born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and raised in New Zealand, turned professional in 2018. The undefeated contender captured his first regional title in June 2022 and registered his most impressive victory in April 2023, rising from a first-round knockdown to stop then-unbeaten Edisson Saltarin in five rounds.
“At the end of the day, Janibek is just another guy, another test on my way to greatness,” Mikhailovich said. “Others will say this is a big deal, but to me, this is fate. I was born for this.”
Lightweight Co-Feature: Muratalla vs. Farmer
In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, undefeated contender Raymond Muratalla (20-0, 16 KOs) will face former world champion Tevin Farmer (33-5-1, 8 KOs). Muratalla, trained by Robert Garcia, went 3-0 with three knockouts in 2023, including a victory over then-unbeaten Mexican puncher Diego Torres.
“I’m ready for the lightweight champions, but I can’t take Tevin Farmer lightly,” Muratalla said. “He is a former world champion who wants another shot.”
The undercard will also feature several other exciting matchups, including Argentinian puncher Gustavo Lemos making his Top Rank debut, a junior lightweight clash between William Foster III and Eridson Garcia, and more.
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