Some have called him "The New Gennadiy Golovkin," but he's really the first Janibek Alimkhanuly. A former amateur standout, and a fearsome boxer-puncher as a professional, Alimkhanuly defends his IBF and WBO middleweight titles against the unbeaten Andrei Mikhailovich in Las Vegas on July 13.
Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) is one of the most feared fighters in world boxing. The 31-year-old southpaw has stopped six of his previous seven opponents and he's coming off a brutal sixth-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten IBF champion Vincenzo Gualtieri.
Stylistically, Janibek can lead or counterpunch, and he's dazzling on the outside and up close. The champ judges distance very well, he cuts the ring down, targets the body and has every punch in the book. It's almost impossible for the Kazakhstan star to be in a boring fight.
"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," said Alimkhanuly when the fight was announced. "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."
WATCH: Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich, live on ESPN+
Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs) was recently installed as the IBF mandatory challenger. The 26-year-old New Zealander brings plenty of ambition into his first world title bout, but he'll need to pull off the upset of a lifetime if he's to derail the rampaging champion.
The Sporting News takes a deep dive into the career of Janibek Alimkhanuly, who is rated No. 1 at 160 pounds by The Ring.
What was Janibek Alimkhanuly's amateur record?
Alimkhanuly reportedly went 300-8 in the amateurs, which is an incredible achievement. The highlight of his time in the unpaid ranks was World Championship gold in 2013, but he also won the Asian Championships (2013) and the Asian Games (2014).
Representing Kazakhstan at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Alimkhanuly won two fights before being eliminated by Azerbaijan's Kamran Shakhsuvarly, who won their quarterfinal match by split decision.
Who has Janibek Alimkhanuly beaten as a professional?
Notable wins for Alimkhanuly include Rob Brant (TKO 8), Danny Dignum (KO 2), Denzel Bentley (UD 12) and Gualtieri (TKO 6).
Despite being 31 years old, Alimkhanuly's biggest fights lie ahead of him. The other titleholders in his weight class are Carlos Adames (WBC) and Erislandy Lara (WBA).
Janibek Alimkhanuly record, stats, bio
- Nationality: Kazakhstani
- Born: April 1, 1993
- Height: 5-11 ½
- Reach: 71 ½ inches
- Total fights: 15
- Record: 15-0, with 10 wins via knockout