Rob Brant: record, next fight and profile →
The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas - The middleweight division has a new boogeyman, and his name his Janibek "Qazaq Style" Alimkhanuly. The 2016 Olympian dominated and ultimately stopped former world champion Rob Bravo" Brant in eight rounds to retain his WBC Continental Americas and WBO Global titles.
Janibek Alimkhanuly proved to be even more dominant than the surprisingly odds in place for his biggest win to date. The 2016 Olympian from Kazakhstan—now based out of Oxnard, California—has officially transformed into a legitimate middleweight contender following a one-sided stoppage of former secondary WBA titlist Rob Brant. Kazakhstan’s Alimkhanuly dropped Brant in round six and forced a corner stoppage after the eighth round of their ESPN+ aired contest Saturday evening at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
A lot of intrigue surrounds this weekend’s middleweight clash in Las Vegas. Rob Brant is tasked with attempting to derail rising contender Janibek Alimkhanuly (9-0, 5KOs), a 2016 Olympian for his native Kazakhstan who is already being groomed for a title shot. It’s a stage on which Brant (26-2, 18KOs) has already enjoyed, previously holding a secondary version of the WBA middleweight title and still remaining among the division’s top talents.
Janibek Alimkhanuly, Rob Brant Weights Official Photos Gallery - Former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko is ready for the next chapter. Eight months after losing an undisputed lightweight title match to Teofimo Lopez, "Loma" returns Saturday night in a 12-round lightweight bout against Japanese contender Masayoshi Nakatani at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Vasiliy Lomachenko is on a mission to reclaim his place among the sport’s very best. Step one for the two-time Olympic Gold medalist and former three-division titlist comes this Saturday, as Lomachenko (14-2, 10KOs) faces Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1, 13KOs) in a scheduled 12-round lightweight contest. Both boxers made weight for their bout Saturday evening, which streams live on ESPN+ from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Alimkhanuly, Brant Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko is ready for the next chapter. Eight months after losing an undisputed lightweight title match to Teofimo Lopez, "Loma" returns Saturday night in a 12-round lightweight bout against Japanese contender Masayoshi Nakatani at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Janibek Alimkhanuly, the middleweight phenom who once ruled the amateur ranks, is ready to bring his patented “Qazaq Style” to Las Vegas. Alimkhanuly, an unbeaten 28-year-old, will step up against former middleweight world champion Rob “Bravo” Brant in a 10-round showdown Saturday, June 26 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Janibek Alimkhanuly will take a step up in competition against a former world champion in his next fight. BoxingScene.com has learned Alimkhanuly will box Rob Brant on June 26 in Las Vegas. Their 10-round middleweight match will be the co-feature before former three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko meets Masayoshi Nakatani in the 12-round main event.
Former WBA world middleweight champ Rob Brant has filed a lawsuit against promoters Greg Cohen, Rapacz Boxing LLC and Top Rank Inc. In the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by BoxingScene.com, Brant seeks damages in excess of $75,000 for Muhammad Ali Act violations, violation of Nevada regulations, alternate theory under Nevada regulations, fraud, fraud by omission, Nevada common law unjust enrichment and breach of good faith and fair dealing. The lawsuit was filed on Brant’s behalf Thursday in the United States District Court of Nevada.
Rob Brant’s transpacific trip to Japan last year resulted in a disastrous defeat. The former WBA world middleweight champion therefore would prefer to avoid a return to Ryota Murata’s home country. Brant ensured a third fight with Murata when he stopped Vitaliy Kopylenko following the fifth round Saturday night in Las Vegas because Murata is contractually obligated to that third meeting.