Zhakiyanov Patiently Awaits Yamanaka Title Shot
Feb 19, 2015 • 12:00 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
Zhanat Zhakiyanov is patient in his pursuit of reaching the same goals achieved by many of his boxing heroes while growing up in Kazakhstan. The top-rated bantamweight contender has a title shot in sights, as he is owed a mandatory crack at unbeaten Shinsuke Yamanaka.
The plan is to secure that fight sometime this summer, as Yamanaka first faces Argentina's Diego Santillan on April 16 in an optional defense in Japan. Zhakiyanov and his team didn't stand in the way of that fight, but go in full hunt mode once it's out of the way.
“I’m the number one with the WBC so I should be fighting Yamanaka next, but I'll get him at some point this year," believes Zhakiyanov (24-1, 17KOs), who has knocked out his last 11 opponents, none lasting longer than seven rounds. “My dream has always been to win a world title like my hero (former cruiserweight champ) Vassiliy Jirov and this year I will do it by beating Yamanaka.”
Zhakiyanov punched his way to contention with a trio of knockouts in 2014, including a 5th round stoppage of Karim Guerfi last April. Just four opponents have extended the hard-hitting Kazakhstani the distance, though none since 2010.
Given his current run and still sought after worldwide appeal, opponents haven’t been in a hurry to face Zhakiyanov. His saving grace from a political and professional standpoint has been his alliance with the immensely popular former two-time champion Ricky Hatton, for whom the 31-year old toils under the Hatton Promotions banner and also trains alongside in the gym.
“Training with Ricky is like training with a king,” Zhakiyanov insists. “People in my country have great respect for him because he was a world champion who fought the very best and defeated Kostya Tsyzu, who was a hero in Kazakhstan.
“I feel I have become a much better fighter since I started training with him and it would be a great honor to become his first world champion.”
There is no current timetable for Zhakiyanov’s next fight, whether he takes a tune-up or just waits out his shot at Yamanaka. Regardless, the focus remains on making sure the de facto bantamweight king doesn’t seek other opportunities come April 17 and beyond.
“He cannot avoid me forever. I'm closing in on him and I do not care if we fight in Europe or in Japan. A ring is a ring and I know I can knock anyone out.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
