Rumored: Janibek Alimkhanuly-Erislandy Lara Unification Bout
By Eddie Sanchez
The IBF and WBO Middleweight Champion is rumored to be on course to next face WBA Middleweight titleholder Erislandy Lara. Their three-belt unification is expected to land on the next announced PBC PPV event, which would pair this fight with the rumored Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz-Lamont Roach Jr clash in December.
Alimkhanuly has not fought since an April 5 knockout victory over undefeated Anauel Ngamissengue on home soil in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 32-year-old southpaw hadn’t fought in his native country since September 2017 prior to the long overdue homecoming.
Alimkhanuly claimed the WBO interim 160lbs belt in a second-round knockout of Danny Dignum in May 2022. He was subsequently upgraded to full titleholder later that year and since added the IBF belt in a sixth-round knockout victory over then-unbeaten Vincenzo Gualtieri in their October 2023 unification bout in Rosenberg, Texas.
Lara, 31-3-3 (19 KOs), has been the titleholder since March 2023, after he previously held a secondary version of the title.
However, the 42-year-old Cuban southpaw has made just two defenses of the title. Both came in 2024, which happened to be his most active year of the decade.
Lara wiped out mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa inside two rounds last March 30 on the inaugural PBC on Prime Video PPV event. The win was followed by a ninth-round stoppage of former two-division champion Danny Garcia last September 14 on the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga undercard in Vegas.
Lara previously held the WBA 154lb title. He has fought just seven times since then, compiling a 6-0-1 record over that period.
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