Jacob Bank meets Janibek Alimkhanuly on January 23 in Horsens, Denmark, for the vacant WBO super middleweight title. That placement gives the younger contender home-turf momentum against an older veteran returning from an extended layoff.

Both camps reached terms earlier this month. These updated details lock in the date and venue for Bank (20-0, 11 KOs) to test himself against the former unified middleweight champion.

Hamzah Sheeraz vacated the belt after being directed to face Janibek, clearing the path for Bank. The WBO promptly ordered talks between the pair of undefeated fighters.

At 25, Bank brings youth, current ring sharpness, and familiarity with the 168-pound limit. He has stepped inside the ropes three times in 2026, entering this contest with no ring rust. Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Janibek spent the entire calendar year idle before stepping up in weight.

Bank gained his strongest validation by stopping William Scull in the 12th round this past January. He stopped the Cuban survivor who previously lasted the full distance against Canelo Alvarez, staying on the hunt until he finally broke through.

The contrast goes beyond the finish. Bank appeared bigger, fresher, and physically stronger against Scull than Alvarez looked. He tackled the task like a true super middleweight, eager to assert his presence and refusing to let Scull’s tentative approach slow the action.

The Kazakh southpaw brings championship rounds alongside sharp counterpunching, yet neither fighter has built an extensive resume against upper-echelon rivals. Janibek’s tight points victory over Denzel Bentley proved that his feared reputation will not intimidate a gritty challenger.

Bank’s amateur pedigree pales in comparison to Janibek’s world-class amateur foundation, but elite pedigree matters far less when a physical, aggressive fighter turns a bout into an ugly high-volume battle. Denzel Bentley proved in 2022 that Janibek doesn’t handle persistent, physical inside pressure cleanly. Bentley’s pressure left him looking exhausted by the eighth round.

At 33, coming off a twelve-month layoff, spending that much energy in the early going is dangerous. The legs are the first thing to go when fatigue sets in. If Janibek’s mobility fades by the middle rounds, he will be forced to stand flat-footed along the ropes against a much younger super middleweight who fights three times a year and is accustomed to that grueling pace.

Jacob Bank meets Janibek Alimkhanuly on January 23 in Horsens, Denmark, for the vacant WBO super middleweight title. That placement gives the younger contender home-turf momentum against an older veteran returning from an extended layoff.

Both camps reached terms earlier this month. These updated details lock in the date and venue for Bank (20-0, 11 KOs) to test himself against the former unified middleweight champion.

Hamzah Sheeraz vacated the belt after being directed to face Janibek, clearing the path for Bank. The WBO promptly ordered talks between the pair of undefeated fighters.

At 25, Bank brings youth, current ring sharpness, and familiarity with the 168-pound limit. He has stepped inside the ropes three times in 2026, entering this contest with no ring rust. Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Janibek spent the entire calendar year idle before stepping up in weight.

Bank gained his strongest validation by stopping William Scull in the 12th round this past January. He stopped the Cuban survivor who previously lasted the full distance against Canelo Alvarez, staying on the hunt until he finally broke through.

The contrast goes beyond the finish. Bank appeared bigger, fresher, and physically stronger against Scull than Alvarez looked. He tackled the task like a true super middleweight, eager to assert his presence and refusing to let Scull’s tentative approach slow the action.

The Kazakh southpaw brings championship rounds alongside sharp counterpunching, yet neither fighter has built an extensive resume against upper-echelon rivals. Janibek’s tight points victory over Denzel Bentley proved that his feared reputation will not intimidate a gritty challenger.

Bank’s amateur pedigree pales in comparison to Janibek’s world-class amateur foundation, but elite pedigree matters far less when a physical, aggressive fighter turns a bout into an ugly high-volume battle. Denzel Bentley proved in 2022 that Janibek doesn’t handle persistent, physical inside pressure cleanly. Bentley’s pressure left him looking exhausted by the eighth round.

At 33, coming off a twelve-month layoff, spending that much energy in the early going is dangerous. The legs are the first thing to go when fatigue sets in. If Janibek’s mobility fades by the middle rounds, he will be forced to stand flat-footed along the ropes against a much younger super middleweight who fights three times a year and is accustomed to that grueling pace.

With both sides having seemingly reached an impasse in negotiations, Shakur Stevenson has offered his version of events and, unsurprisingly, blames Devin Haney for the collapse of their all-American showdown.

The two pound-for-pounds were in deep talks to collide later this year, or perhaps in early 2027, but it would now seem their hoped-for clash is dead in the water.

Most would assume this could be explained by a money-related issue but, according to Stevenson, it is more to do with a disagreement over the proposed catchweight.

Initially, the slick southpaw said he would only face Haney at a catchweight of 144lbs, while also insisting on a rehydration clause in their contract.

During their negotiations, however, Haney seemingly convinced Stevenson to drop the rehydration clause and agree to meet at 145lbswhere he would be fighting below his usual weight of 147lbs.

Stevenson, meanwhile, would have been moving up from 140lbs following his wide unanimous decision and WBO title-winning victory over Teofimo Lopez in January.

It seems plans have now changed, though, as the 29-year-old has taken to social media and explained his side of the story,

“At the 11th hour, after agreeing to 144 and then 145[lbs]DeeHoe [Haney] had his lawyer email and say that he would only fight at 147. Big waste of everybody’s time.”

At the 11th hour, after agreeing to 144 and then 145, DeeHoe had his lawyer email and say that he would only fight at 147. Big waste of everybody’s time.

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) October 16, 2026

With Haney no longer a viable option, Stevenson may struggle to squeeze another fight in this year after inking a long-term promotional deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

As for WBO world welterweight champion Haney, the 27-year-old has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr with a unanimous decision victory last November.