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Despair for Janibek Alimhkanuly, who withdraws from the fight with Mikhailovich

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As fight week draws to a close, Janibek Alimkhanuly was poised to defend his IBF and WBO middleweight titles against Andrey Mikhailovich tonight at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Fighting an opponent few have heard of may not do much for Janibek’s legacy, but the man nicknamed “Qazak Style” at least cleaned up the challengers and kept himself busy. Until he didn’t.

Yesterday, information emerged that the champion was hospitalized due to extreme dehydration and is unable to continue the fight.

“Janibek was shedding the last few pounds yesterday evening when he fainted,” said manager Egis Klimas.

Janibek was expected to enter the ring as the unified 160-pound champion and universally recognized number one contender, but her status at that weight is now under a whole fresh level of scrutiny.

As the elderly saying goes, “you can only beat what you put in front of you,” and until the players he puts in front of him improve significantly, beating the competition and staying busy is proving to be a great strategy for the 31-year-old from Oxnard.

Currently, there is talk of a credible opponent, which could be Troy Isley.

He has a 13-0 record as a professional and always comes to the ring in great shape; in just his ninth fight, Isley stopped Roy Barringer, who troubled contender Ian Green over 10 rounds last month.

Other future options include a fight with WBC champion Carlos Adames or even Hamza Sheeraz (below), who will face Tyler Denny on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.

Hamzah Sheeraz celebrates Liam Williams’ arrest (Getty Images)

Not to be ignored, today’s proposed opponent, Andrei Mikhailovich, will now also have to recalibrate after devastating reports of a postponement. Reveling in the label of an outsider, he came to America supremely confident.

“At the end of the day, Janibek is just another guy, another test on my path to greatness. Others will say it’s a massive deal, but for me it’s destiny. I was born for this. From day one, I planned to dominate, take over and control my destiny,” said Mikhailovich, who has always believed his warrior mentality would be the difference.

Now, like the rest of us, he’ll have to wait for a fighter who may have to give up 160 entirely.

Alimkhanuly has a habit of sweeping opponents in a similar fashion to the Kazakh king who paved the way for him to the middleweight division. The era of Gennady Golovkin is long gone, but his absence is still felt.

The crushing knockouts, the broken English interviews, and the crushing, intimidating power all added to the joy of GGG. He is missed, but life goes on, and the middleweight division is in the process of being reshuffled.

A fit and ready Janibek Alimkhanuly is currently leading this movement. After a process of mental reflection and physical recovery, we will see where the next stage of his journey really leads.

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Boxing

Both Beterbiev and Bivol are making weight ahead of their uncontested clash

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ALL the main fighters have made their weights ahead of tomorrow night’s huge fight for the undisputed lightweight heavyweight title. In the main event, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, as expected, looked full of energy and readiness. Jai Opetaia and Jack Massey were only an envelope apart, while Frazer Clarke was 30 pounds heavier than Fabio Wardley.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 11: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol look on as Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, holds the Undisputed belt ahead of the fight for the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO world titles between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii’s WBO lightweight heavyweight titles Bivol during the Riyad – IV Crown Showdown season weigh-ins at The Venue on October 11, 2024 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 11: Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke will face off ahead of the British heavyweight title fight between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke at the Riyad – IV Crown Showdown season weigh-ins at The Venue on October 11, 2024 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia . (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 11: Jai Opetaia and Jack Massey pose for a photo before the IBF World Cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and Jack Massey during the in-season weigh-in at Riyad – IV Crown Showdown at The Venue on October 11, 2024. in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 11: Chris Eubank Jr and Kamil Szeremeta pose for a photo before the IBO World Middleweight title fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Kamil Szeremeta during the in-season weigh-in in Riyad – IV Crown Showdown at The Venue: October 11, 2024 . in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Beterbiev vs. Bivol

Main fight weights for the Beterbiev vs. card Bivol:

Artur Beterbiev (174.9) vs. Dmitry Bivol (174.12)

Jai Opetaia (198.9) vs. Jack Massey (199/12)

Fabio Wardley (241.6) vs. Frazer Clarke (271.3)

Chris Eubank Jr (159.12) vs. Kamil’s love (159.12)

Ben Whittaker (174.9) vs. Liam Cameron (174.6)

Skye Nicolson (125.9) vs. Raven Chapman (125.9)


Watch Beterbiev vs. Bivol and an uncontested card featuring Wardley vs. Clarke 2 live on DAZN PPV. Buy the fight for £19.99 and get a 7-day free trial, no subscription required.

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Sivenathi Nontshinga summons his road warrior mojo to face Masamichi Yabuki in Japan

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by Francisco Salazar |

Sivenathi Nontshinga enjoys fighting in his hometown as much as any fighter, but he thrives on the challenge of fighting in someone else’s hometown.

That will be the case on Saturday when Nontshinga, who is ranked No. 2 in the 108-pound weight class according to The Ring, defends Masamichi Yabuki’s IBF junior flyweight world title at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, a suburb of Nagoya where Yabuki lives .

At Friday’s weigh-in, Nontshing weighed 107.3 pounds. Yabuki weighed 107.1 pounds.

Nontshinga (13-1, 10 knockouts), based in Reeston, South Africa, last fought on February 16, defeating Adrien Curiel in the 10th round and regaining the IBF world champion belt. The victory over Curiel was a rematch of their November 4 clash, which Curiel won by knockout in the second round.

The 25-year-old won the vacant IBF title in September 2022, defeating Hector Flores Calixto via split decision. Both victories over Curiel and Flores came in Mexico. Nontshinga will go to foreign soil again to defend his title against Yabuki (16-4, 15 KO), who is ranked 6th according to The Ring.

Nontshinga has no problem fighting in another fighter’s hometown and actually loves fighting in this environment.

“Honestly, I love fighting in foreign countries or in my opponent’s backyard,” Nontshinga told The Ring Wednesday. “Thanks to them, I am (much) better and more powerful, and even (more) confident, because in the end it is me and the boxer in the square ring. Nobody else.”

Nontshinga hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of South Africa’s boxing greats, including the likes of former world champions ‘Baby’ Jake Matlala, Gerrie Coetzee and Brian Mitchell. All three fighters survived defeat before winning the world championship belt and leaving their mark on the sport.

Despite losing to Curiel in the first fight, Nontshinga recovered and regained the world champion belt. Nontshinga wants to forge his own path in the sport and hopes to contribute to the great history of the sport in South Africa.

“I’ve learned that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the main reason is learning, dusting yourself off and pulling your socks up,” said Nontshinga, who made his professional debut in East London, South Africa, in July 2017. “It’s all a learning curve . Think of it as a minor setback for (a) major setback (or) a major comeback.

“To be mentioned among the best from my country would simply mean a lot because these are our icons.”

Nontshinga is trained and managed by Colin Nathan, who is based in Johannesburg and is respected in boxing circles in South Africa and abroad. Nontshinga is grateful to have someone with Nathan’s pedigree in his corner.

“(Colin) means everything to me,” Nontshinga said. “(He) played a huge role in my career. I’m here because of him. I will always honor this man’s name. He changed my life and the life of my family.”

A victory over Yakubi could put Nontshinga on the path to unification with another 108-pound world titleholder. Nontshinga could face the winner of the October 13 fight between Shokichi Iwata and Jairo Noriega, who will fight for the vacant WBO junior flyweight world title.

A fight with Kenshiro Teraji, who is the 108-pound ring champion, is possible.

Nontshinga wants to make a statement at Yakubi’s expense and also prove that he is the best fighter at 108 pounds.

“I will surprise the whole world and outsmart Yabuki, but believe me, the fight will end in (a) knockout in the later rounds.

“I think I’m one of the best junior flyweights and I have the tools to become the best.”

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“Frozen players” Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol make weight

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Both Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol weighed just under the featherlight heavyweight limit to take part in Saturday’s undisputed title fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

The slimmer, slightly taller Bivol, 33, weighed 67.12 pounds. Beterbiev, 39, whose torn meniscus forced him to postpone the coveted competition to June 1, weighed 60.9 kg.

The Russians looked at each other for a moment, showing mutual respect, and then left the stage with the same tranquil with which they arrived.

“I’m always like this,” Bivol told DAZN during the ceremonial weigh-in. “I’m laid back, but also focused. It means a lot to me, but at the same time I try to forget everything I’ve been through. Thank you for everything, for everyone and now I only focus on Saturday.

“I just need to eat well, sleep and be ready. I’m used to this. I have been fighting since I was six years ancient.”

“Good as usual,” Beterbiev replied when asked about his well-being. “[My] favorite part is the fighting. Like I said, we’ll see. I’m getting ready to fight.”

Their recent reluctance to express themselves led to Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn, long associated with DAZN, attempting to promote Saturday’s fight again and saying: “It’s a great generational fight. The best featherlight heavyweight fight in decades.

“Two icy competitors. This is a chance for Dmitry Bivol to fulfill a lifelong dream. “

The full weighing results are as follows

Lightweight heavyweight – 12 rounds

Artur Beterbiev (174.9 pounds) vs. Dmitry Bivol (174.12 pounds)

Heavyweight – 12 rounds

Fabio Wardley (241.6 lbs) vs Frazer Clarke (271.3 lbs)

Cruiserweight – 12 rounds

Jai Opetaia (198.6 pounds) vs. Jack Massey (199.13 pounds)

Middleweight – 12 rounds

Chris Eubank Jnr (159.1 pp) vs Kamil Szeremeta (159.1 pp)

Featherweight – 10 two-minute rounds

Skye Nicolson (125.9 pounds) vs. Raven Chapman (125.9 pounds)

Lightweight heavyweight – 10 rounds

Ben Whittaker (174.9 pounds) vs Liam Cameron (174.6 pounds)

Super featherweight – four rounds

Mohammed Alakel (131 pounds) vs. Jesus Gonzalez (131 pounds)

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