Janibek Alimkhanuly can finally put aside his taunts toward the rest of the middleweight division - he has a major fight lined up.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the unbeaten IBF and WBO champion is set to face WBA titleholder Erislandy Lara in a three-belt unification clash. The bout is expected to headline a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view event in December, alongside the rumored Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Lamont Roach Jr. matchup.
Alimkhanuly was long linked to a unification with WBC champion Carlos Adames, though that fight never materialized. Adames must instead deal with his mandatory challenger, Kazakhstan’s Meiirim Nursultanov.
The 32-year-old Alimkhanuly last fought on April 5 in Astana, Kazakhstan, where he scored a knockout over Anauel Ngamissengue, marking his fifth title defense and fourth consecutive stoppage victory. Since winning the WBO interim belt in 2022, the southpaw has collected both the full WBO strap and the IBF crown, adding the latter in his October 2023 win over Vincenzo Gualtieri.
Lara brings experience and longevity to the unification. The 42-year-old Cuban southpaw captured the WBA title in March 2023 and has defended it twice: a second-round demolition of Michael Zerafa in March 2024 and a ninth-round stoppage of Danny Garcia that September. A former long-reigning 154lbs champion, Lara’s only loss at middleweight came by split decision to Jarrett Hurd back in 2018.
Image Credit: ESPN