Canelo Alvarez normally surfs online to see who’s the latest fighter to call him out. The Mexican star has grown accustomed to hearing his name on the lips of practically every big-name boxer, even those who aren’t in his weight class.
Janibek Alimkhanuly is the newest fighter to throw his name in the mix. The 30-year-old Kazakhstan native recently added the IBF middleweight crown to his once lonely WBO title. Vincenzo Gualtieri, the former champion, stood little to no chance as he was beaten down and violently stopped in the sixth round this past weekend.
Alvarez, just a few weeks prior, also had a relatively easy time in the ring against Jermell Charlo. It wasn’t quite as savage but Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) won essentially every second of every round, en route to defending his undisputed super middleweight titles.
Neither man took a ton of damage. They also fought in close proximity to one another. When it comes to what takes place at the negotiating table, not a single soul will dictate to Alvarez what the terms or dates would be. With that said, Alimkhanuly proposed that they get it on in the first quarter of the new year.
“If Canelo is ready, then I’m ready to fight him in February,” said Alimkhanuly on his social media account. “I need four belts.”
If Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) wants a piece of Alvarez, he’ll have to do a few things. Number one, he’ll need to, at least transiently, forget about the middleweight division and head eight pounds north. Secondly, even if Alimkhanuly makes the move up in weight, he’ll have to grab a ticket and head to the back of the line.
It isn’t hyperbolic to say that Alvarez is the most wanted man in boxing. Not only is the light shining brightly off his IBF, WBO, WBC, and WBA super middleweight titles but fighters are enticed with the fame and fortune that come with fighting and beating Alvarez.
Money and adulation aside, Alvarez is a pound-for-pound luminary, a future Hall of Famer, and an all-time great. All of that may very well be true but if Alimkhanuly is given the chance to show what he’s got, not only does he believe that he’ll beat Alvarez, he’s also convinced that he’ll do so while yawning and without breaking a sweat.
“I can knock him out easily. If you understand boxing, then you know it all!”
By Hans Themistode