Mikhailovich to Janibek ahead of 160 title fight: 'I’m gonna f---ing kill you'
Bad feelings remain after bout was canceled in July over weight issues
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The pre-fight hype for the bout between unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly and IBF mandatory challenger Andrei Mikhailovich has centered on one thing: Would Alimkhanuly make weight this time?
Alimkhanuly indeed made it on Thursday, weighing in at 159.6 pounds while Mikhailovich was 159.9, both inside the limit for when they square off in the main event of a No Limit Boxing card on Friday (ESPN+, 5 a.m. ET) at The Star in Sydney, Australia.
Only Alimkhanuly’s IBF title is at stake because Mikhailovich opted not to fight for the WBO belt he also holds. That means the fighters are required to weigh in again on the morning of the bout and neither can be more than 10 pounds above the 160-pound division limit.
In a unified title fight, the IBF waves the second-day weigh-in, so by not fighting for the WBO belt Mikhailovich is putting significant pressure on Alimkhanuly to hold back his weight gain, which is a big deal considering what happened in July.
That is when they were scheduled to meet for both belts on July 13 in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. However, two nights before the fight Alimkhanuly fainted as a result of dehydration trying to make weight. He was hospitalized and the fight was canceled the next day.
It led to significant hard feelings, no surprise considering Mikhailovich traveled some 7,000 miles for the fight only to see it get canceled. That meant no chance to win a world title and no fight purse — although Alimkhanuly promoter Top Rank said it would pay him at least a portion of his purse for his trouble.
Mikhailovich was still ticked off about it this week and directed his anger toward the southpaw Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10), 31, at their tension-filled news conference.
Asked by the moderator at the end of his chance to speak if he had anything to say to Alimkhanuly, Mikhailovich glared at him and did not hold back.
“I’m gonna fucking kill you is what I’m gonna say. There you go,” Mikhailovich said.
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