Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) easily retained his IBF and WBO middleweight titles with a knockout over former heavyweight contender Andrei Mikhailovich (21-1, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Star in Sydney. , Australia.
After the tournament, the 31-year-old Janibek said he was carrying Mikhailovich and that he could have knocked him out in the second round. Indeed, it looked like Janibek was comfortable after backing Mikhailovich to the canvas with heavy punches in the second round.
Mikhailovich was injured in the third and fourth rounds but ended up not being perfect. One could see Janibek always retreating, allowing Mikhailovich to stay in the fight. It almost looked like Janibek was showing mercy to the 26-year-old because it was too easy and not a fair fight.
Mikhailovich was perfectly matched and rocked repeatedly by Janibek’s hard punches. In retrospect, the IBF and WBO did nothing for Mikhailovich to rank him at the top level even though he had no experience in world class fights. Mikhailovich had never fought a top-15 fighter before facing Janibek, and it showed.
Mikhailovich made changes after the fourth round by pressuring Janibek, fighting in close, and not allowing him to gain momentum on his shots. Even so, he was being worked by the master, his face was tied, and he looked tired.
Janibek hurt Mikhailovich with hard left hands in the eighth and ninth, which shook his legs. Finally, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight in the ninth round after Mikhailovich was hit against the ropes. The stop time was 2:45.
After the fight, Janibek said he wants to fight the next unification match at 160 against the champion Erislandy Lara and Carlos Adames. It’s doubtful that either of these guys will accept his offer to fight because he’s a dangerous striker, and none of those fighters are fighting at the level he showed tonight.
“I could finish him in the second round, but he didn’t do that because I needed to work a little,” said Janibek to the media after the fight, making it clear that he was carrying Mikhailovich. “He changed his strategy, I had to adapt to his next strategy. I actually liked what I did.
“He was talking a lot during the press conference. I just told myself that I will bring him a little pain. So, taking him out in the second round would not be very easy. So, I pressed him, and as you can see, he got a big punishment for what he did.
“I didn’t feel his punches coming in.” So I took it easy without asking. I know both fighters. I was in the ring with Adames, so I know him. I have my tricks for both of these men, and I’m ready when they’re ready,” said Janibek when asked about his interest in fighting WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames and WBA champion Erislandy Lara in a unification fight.
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