Janibek Alimkhanuly can finally cease tormenting his middleweight peers on social media.
BoxingScene has learned that the unbeaten IBF and WBO 160lbs titlist is on course to next face WBA middleweight titleholder Erislandy Lara. Their three-belt unification bout is expected to land on the next announced Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) pay-per-view event, which would pair this fight with the rumored Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz-Lamont Roach Jnr clash in December.
The development comes after previous rumors surfaced that WBC beltholder Carlos Adames was the targeted opponent for Alimkhanuly, 17-0 (12 KOs). The pair of middleweight title claimants have gone back and forth with insults and demands for more than a year on social media, but never came close to meeting in the ring.
No reason was given – even off the record - as to why Adames didn’t land the assignment. However, the Dominican is pressed with an outstanding mandatory title defense against Kazakhstan’s Meiirim Nursultanov, 20-0 (11 KOs).
Alimkhanuly has not fought since an April 5 knockout victory over undefeated Anauel Ngamissengue on home soil in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 32-year-old southpaw hadn’t fought in his native country since September 2017 prior to the long overdue homecoming.
The win extended his current four-fight knockout streak and also marked his fifth defense of at least one middleweight title.
Alimkhanuly claimed the WBO interim 160lbs belt in a second-round knockout of Danny Dignum in May 2022. He was subsequently upgraded to full titleholder later that year and since added the IBF belt in a sixth-round knockout victory over then-unbeaten Vincenzo Gualtieri in their October 2023 unification bout in Rosenberg, Texas.
Lara, 31-3-3 (19 KOs), has been the recognized WBA 160lbs titlist since March 2023, after he previously held a secondary version of the title.
However, the 42-year-old Cuban southpaw – who lives and trains in Las Vegas - has made just two defenses of the title. Both came in 2024, ironically his most active campaign of the decade.
Lara wiped out mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa inside two rounds last March 30 on the inaugural PBC on Prime Video PPV event.
The win was followed by a ninth-round stoppage of former two-division titlist Danny Garcia last September 14 on the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga undercard in Vegas.
Lara previously held the WBA 154lbs title, a reign which ended in a split decision defeat to then-unbeaten IBF titlist Jarrett Hurd in their sensational April 2018 unification bout. He has fought just seven times since then, compiling a 6-0-1 record over that period.
