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‘Crawford doesn’t need Adames – I’ll take the seatbelts’

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Image: Janibek Alimkhanuly: “Crawford Doesn’t Need Adames — I’ll Take All the Belts, Then He Can Fight Me”

Janibek Alimkhanuly says Terence Crawford won’t have to drop down to 160 pounds to fight for Carlos Adames’ WBC middleweight title.

Janibek’s challenge to Crawford

IBF and WBO 160-pound champion Janibek says he will defeat WBA champion Erislandy Lara on December 6 and then Adames for the belt. Then Crawford can fight him for all four belts when he’s ready.

The main problem for undefeated Janibek (17-0, 12 KO) is that Adames (24-1-1, 18 KO) has never shown any interest in fighting him. And now, with Crawford sniffing around and suggesting a move up to 160 pounds to win a sixth-division world title, the reason Adames, 31, would fight Alimkhnuly is even less relevant. Why take a risky fight when he can sit and wait for Crawford?

Crawford’s easier route through Adames

The WBC title is the equivalent of a golden ticket for Adames because he has the best chance of fighting Crawford. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Bud sparred with Adames many years ago and reportedly defeated him in 2014. Competing against Adames would be easier for Crawford than fighting the likely 160-pound king, Janibek, for the titles if he prevails in his December 6 fight against Lara.

There is no need to fight Adames

It’s understandable that Janibek wants Crawford to fight for the 160-pound belts because a million-dollar payday would be huge. If Crawford moves up to middleweight and faces Adames instead, he could either give up after having his WBC title stripped from him and settle for a sixth-division title, or retire.

Height and style matching factor

The 5’11 1/2″ Janibek would be one of the tallest opponents the 5’11 1/2″ Crawford has faced since his fight against the 5’11 1/2″ Viktor Postol on July 23, 2016. He had a lot of trouble with the lanky Ukrainian in that fight and had to rely on his hand speed and movement to take a unanimous decision after 12 rounds.

Janibek vs. Lara will fight in a co-featured video at the Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Lamont Roach event taking place on December 6, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video PPV. 42-year-old Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO) will have a 15-month break since her last fight against Danny Garcia on September 14, 2024. Lara defeated former two-division world champion Garcia in the ninth round.

Last updated: 31/10/2025

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Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

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Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

Daniel Dubois will face Fabio Wardley in a rematch of a heavyweight slugfest from earlier this year, with Dubois defending the WBO heavyweight title he took from Wardley on that night.

Live coverage will kick off at 2 pm ET, and we’ll have results and updates during the four-fight, main card undercard, then live, round-by-round scoring and updates for the main event itself.

How to watch Dubois vs Wardley 2

Start time: 2:00 pm ET for main card, prelims begin at 11:00 am ET

Streaming: DAZN (Ultimate subscription or Pay-Per-View)

PPV Cost: As a standalone, one-off purchase Pay-Per-View, the price is $59.99 (or £24.99). With DAZN’s Ultimate tier, the show is included as part of your subscription.

Location: O2 Arena – London, England

Dubois vs Wardley 2 full undercard and running order

Live Stream: Dubois vs Wardley 2 Prelims

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Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance

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"Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance"

Fabio Wardley can turn his early success against Daniel Dubois into a rematch victory if he avoids exhausting himself chasing the finish. He proved he could hurt Dubois in their first fight. The harder task is keeping control when an opponent he has dropped continues coming forward.

Wardley scored two early knockdowns before Dubois recovered and stopped him. That leaves an opening for a different result, although better pacing alone may not be enough to prevent another punishing night.

Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora both back Wardley to win again on Saturday, with Mannix choosing him by stoppage. Mora believes Wardley’s eagerness to finish Dubois helped undo his promising start.

“If he just doesn’t punch himself out, he thinks about setting up that right hand, doesn’t get right hand happy,” Mora said to DAZN Boxing.

That is the adjustment Wardley needs to make under pressure. Once Dubois survived his biggest punches, Wardley needed something beyond another loaded right hand. Working behind his jab and putting punches together would give him more ways to attack without spending everything on a single finish.

Dubois deserves credit for surviving those knockdowns and returning to his jab. Mora believes his previous defeats helped him stay composed when Wardley hurt him. Wardley now has his own experience of a fight turning against him.

“I think he’ll be smarter after this fight. I think he’ll learn some lessons,” Mannix said. “I think Wardley wins by stoppage in this fight.”

Mannix’s biggest concern is what the first beating took out of Wardley. Learning the tactical lesson does not guarantee he will absorb Dubois’ punches the same way in the rematch.

Wardley’s power gives their picks a credible foundation. He has already put Dubois down twice. To complete the job, he needs to create another opening without allowing the pursuit of a knockout to leave him exhausted and exposed again.

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Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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Fabio Wardleys Team Advocates for Strict Foul Monitoring Against Daniel Dubois

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"Fabio Wardley's Team Advocates for Strict Foul Monitoring Against Daniel Dubois"

Fabio Wardley’s team wants tighter control of Daniel Dubois’ head-first attacks in Saturday’s rematch, with manager Michael Ofo calling for stronger officiating after their first fight.

The concern is about Wardley being able to punch without Dubois driving into him with his head. Those collisions can interrupt an attack, knock a fighter out of position, and make him hesitate before throwing again.

Dubois recovered from two knockdowns to stop Wardley in May and take the WBO heavyweight title. Ahead of their return at London’s O2 Arena, Ofo has accused the champion of leading with his head and using a tackle during that fight.

“We’re calling for a stronger referee, because it’s needed,” Ofo told Sky Sports Boxing.

Dubois’ trainer Don Charles rejected the criticism, describing the opposing camp’s complaints as “insecurity and weakness.”

Wardley’s camp has a reasonable case for asking the referee to watch those entries closely. When Dubois comes forward behind his punches, head contact can make it difficult for Wardley to plant his feet and counter. Intent is difficult to establish, but repeated collisions still need attention.

That becomes especially important if Wardley hurts Dubois again. He needs the opportunity to follow up without a foul interrupting his work and giving the champion time to recover.

However, Wardley cannot build his approach around the referee intervening. His jab has to give Dubois something to get past, and combinations would make him less predictable than loading up on individual power shots. Moving after punching could also reduce the opportunities for Dubois to drive into him.

Wardley showed he could hurt Dubois in the first fight. The harder task is turning those moments into a finish while avoiding another punishing battle at close range. Firmer officiating could help, but his own adjustments will have to do most of the work. Wardley cannot rely on the third man to solve that puzzle.

If Dubois is going to be stopped from barreling in head-first, Wardley has to make the physical cost of doing so intolerable, just like Oleksandr Usyk did.

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BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

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