Janibek Alimkhanuly scored a ninth round stoppage win over a game but overmatched Andrei Mikhailovich today in Australia, retaining his IBF and WBO middleweight titles.
The fight was never all that competitive, with Janibek (16-0, 11 KO) pretty much having it his way from the opening bell. He dropped Mikhailovich (21-1, 13 KO) late in the second round, but the underdog challenger fought like a true warrior, marching forward as best he could against Janibek’s superior skill and firepower.
Another knockdown in round nine and what looked as though it could have been a broken jaw forced the referee’s hand, though. Mikhailovich deserves credit for heart and grit in what was at least a two-level step-up from prior opposition, but he was out of his depth in this one.
“Keep in mind I haven’t been in the ring for a year,” Janibek said through an interpreter. “It was a good experience for me to come back and shake the rust. … He’s a good boxer, he has a very good team of nice people. I want to wish him (luck).”
Janibek also had a message for fellow titlists Carlos Adames and Erislandy Lara: “Two titles are missing. Either of them, I’m ready any time. Send me the contract, I’ll sign it any time.”