Notebook: Janibek's Kazakhstan homecoming defense finalized
Prograis injured, new Duarte foe; Matias-Valenzuela 140 eliminator set; Chisora-Wallin card updates; purse bid result; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Janibek Alimkhanuly will defend his WBO/IBF middleweight title against Anauel Ngamissengue in a homecoming bout on April 5 (ESPN+) at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan, Nomad Promotions, which will be putting on its first event, and Alimkhanuly promoter Top Rank announced on Wednesday.
“Janibek is a supreme talent and the very best middleweight in the world,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “He has tremendous support in Kazakhstan, and we are pleased that he’ll have the opportunity to defend his world titles in front of his adoring home fans. Anauel is a tough opponent, but Janibek is in a class of his own.”
Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs), 31, a 2016 Olympian from Kazakhstan based in Oxnard, California, will make his fifth title defense and fight in his home country for the first time since his first two professional bouts in 2016 and 2017.
“‘Kazakh Style’ is finally coming home,” Alimkhanuly said. “April 5 will be a memorable night as I defend my world titles against a top opponent. Many fighters turned down this opportunity, so I credit Anauel for accepting the challenge. My goal is to become the undisputed champion and Anauel is in my way.”
Plans were in the works for Alimkhanuly to face England’s Shakiel Thompson (13-0, 9 KO), pending a victory in a tune-up fight on Friday. Top Rank and Thompson promoter GBM were nearing a deal but Thompson manager Kevin Maree declined the fight, feeling their side should receive a much larger purse. At that point, Ngamissengue was offered the opportunity and accepted.
“This is the most important moment of my career,” Ngamissengue said. “I know I’m going into the lion’s den, but I thrive in situations like this. I respect Janibek and everything he’s achieved, but I’m coming to Kazakhstan to crash the party and show the world that I belong at the top.”
Ngamissengue (14-0, 9 KOs), 29, who fights out of France, represented his birth country of Congo at the 2016 Olympics and turned pro in 2019. The title fight will be only his second scheduled for 10 or more rounds.
Alimkhanuly claimed the WBO title in 2022 when he was elevated from interim to full titleholder. He unified in 2023 when he knocked out IBF titlist Vincenzo Gualtieri in the sixth round of a one-sided fight.
After a year off after that bout, he returned in October, traveling to Australia, where he knocked out Andrei Mikhailovich in the ninth round of another one-sided fight. Only the IBF belt was at stake because Mikhailovich’s team declined to fight for the WBO title.
Injured Prograis withdraws
Junior welterweight contender Oscar Duarte will face short-notice replacement opponent Miguel Madueno in a 12-rounder in the main event of a Golden Boy card on DAZN on Feb. 15 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Both fighters have agreed to terms but contracts still needed to be signed, a source with knowledge of the plans told Fight Freaks Unite on Wednesday night.
Duarte was scheduled to face former two-time titlist Regis Prograis, but he withdrew from the bout on Tuesday. According to Golden Boy president Eric Gomez, Prograis suffered a pinched nerve in his neck from sparring, leaving him unable to fight.
But the show will go on for Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs), 28, of Mexico, who has won two straight since an eighth-round knockout loss to Ryan Garcia in 2023. He is coming off a unanimous decision over contender Batyr Akhmedov in an all-action fight Nov.16 on the “Latino Night” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Madueno (31-3, 28 KOs), 26, of Mexico, who has never been knocked out, is coming off a near-shutout 10-round decision loss to rising lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis in July.
Prograis was quite disappointed to be forced out of the fight, posting to social media, “All that sacrifice and training for nothing.”
Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs), 35, a southpaw from New Orleans, was looking to end a two-fight skid in which he lost a shutout decision to Devin Haney and the WBC title in December 2023 followed by a decision to Jack Catterall in October.
Chisora-Wallin card update
There are two notable updates to the Queensberry Promotions card set for Saturday (DAZN in U.S., 2 p.m. ET; TNT Sports in U.K.).
The heavyweight main event between Derek Chisora (35-13, 23 KOs), 40, of England, and Otto Wallin (27-2, 15 KOs), 34, a southpaw from Sweden based in New York, which will take place at the Co-op Live in Manchester, has gained stakes. It will now be an official IBF eliminator for the No. 2 position in its rankings.
Also, Queensberry announced this week that the light heavyweight co-feature between Willy Hutchinson (18-2, 13 KOs), 26, of Scotland, and Zach Parker (25-1, 18 KOs), 30, of England, has been canceled due a Hutchinson injury.
“Unfortunately, Willy Hutchinson suffered an injury during sparring, which resulted in a dislocation and tear to his left shoulder, meaning he has had to withdraw from his upcoming bout with Zach Parker,” Queensberry said in a statement. “Willy will now undergo an MRI scan this week to determine the extent of the injury, and we wish him all the best in his recovery.”
Queensberry added that it would work with Parker’s team to see if a suitable replacement can be found to allow him to remain on the card.
Matias-Valenzuela eliminator set
Former IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias and Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela will meet in final eliminator in the main event of a Salita Promotions/Fresh Productions card on March 1 (DAZN) at Coliseo Tomas Dones Hernandez in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Matias’ hometown.
“Fighting in my hometown, in front of my people, is an honor and an extra motivation,” Matias said. “I know Valenzuela will come prepared, but I’m ready to prove why I deserve another shot at the title. On March 1st, Fajardo will witness a great battle.”
There was a purse bid scheduled for Tuesday but they made a deal and announced the fight on Wednesday. The winner will be the mandatory challenger for titleholder Richardson Hitchins.
Matias (21-2, 21 KOs), 32, has won his only fight since losing a decision and the belt to Liam Paro in June. Paro then lost the title to Hitchins.
Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs), 30, of Mexico, has won five fights in a row.
“This fight is going to be a classic,” Valenzuela said. “I’m proud to represent my country as I fight to bring another world title back home to Mexico.”
Quick hits
Three Lions Promotions on Wednesday won a purse bid at WBC headquarters in Mexico City to gain promotional rights to the fight between WBC cruiserweight titlist Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs), 41, a Sweden native based in Dubai, and the Three Lions-promoted mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs), 29, of Canada. It was the only bidder at $325,000. Ten percent ($32,500) will be held by the WBC and go to the winner as a bonus. Jack is entitled to 70 percent ($204,750) and Rozicki 10 percent ($87,750) of the remaining 90 percent. Three Lion plans to put the fight on in Canada on either April 19 or April 26. Three-division titlist Jack will be making his first cruiserweight defense. He has been idle since a 12th-round KO of Ilunga Makabu to win the belt in February 2023. He hoped to fight for the WBC bridgerweight title and was placed “in recess” but when the fight did not materialize he returned to cruiserweight and was reinstated in December.
According to the IBF, Angel Ayala (18-0, 8 KOs), 24, of Mexico, will hit the road for his first IBF flyweight title defense against IBF junior flyweight titlist Masamichi Yabuki, who will move up for the opportunity on March 29 on a Kameda Promotions card at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan. Ayala stopped Dave Apolinario in the sixth round in August in Mexico City to win the title vacated by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. Yabuki (17-4, 16 KOs), 32, of Japan, became a two-time 108-pound titlist in his last fight in October by knocking out Sivenathi Nontshinga in the ninth round in Tokoname. The winner will owe a mandatory defense to former IBF junior flyweight titlist Felix Alvarado (42-4, 35 KOs), 35, of Nicaragua, the IBF said.
Heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov (14-0, 14 KOs), 30, the two-time Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist from Uzbekistan, will see his return to professional boxing delayed following his second gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Top Rank fighter, who has not had a pro fight since November 2023, was due to face David Spilmont in a 10-rounder in the co-feature of the Eye of the Tiger card on Thursday (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET) in Montreal, but he was scratched on Wednesday. EOTT announced Jalolov was out due to “a medical issue.” A source with knowledge of the reason said it was because Jalolov has an infection and the commission was concerned he might spread it, so he was not allowed to fight. In the main event, junior welterweight Arthur Biyarslanov (17-0, 14 KOs), 29, a Russia native fighting out of Toronto, will face French southpaw Mohamed Mimoune (24-6, 5 KOs), 37, in a 10-rounder.
Queensberry Promotions announced it has signed 2024 British Olympic super heavyweight Delicious Orie, 27, who was born in Russia but lived in England since childhood. He won gold at the 2023 European Champions and 2022 Commonwealth Games. He received a bronze at the 2022 European Championships. At the Paris Olympics last summer, Orie was eliminated via split decision loss to Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan in the opening round. “I can’t wait to get this next chapter underway,” said the 6-foot-6 Orie. “I’ve put the heartbreak of Paris behind me and look back on my amateur career with pride. I’ve teamed up with Steel City gym, STN Sports and Queensberry Promotions, who together I feel are the team that will take me to the top of the heavyweight division.”
Matchroom Boxing has secured an opponent for Omari Jones, a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and lone American to claim a boxing medal at the Paris Games, to face in his pro debut. Jones, 22, of Orlando, Florida, will face Alessio Mastronunzio in the six-round junior middleweight bout on March 15 (DAZN) at the Caribe Royale in Jones’ hometown on the undercard of the Austin “Ammo” Williams-Patrice Volny middleweight fight. Matchroom Boxing signed Jones last month. Mastronunzio (14-5, 4 KOs), 30, of Italy, has won two fights in a row. In 2021, up-and-comer Xander Zayas knocked him out in the first round.
The IBF on Tuesday canceled a purse bid for a middleweight final eliminator for No. 1 between Etinosa Oliha (21-0, 9 KOs), 26, of Italy, and Kyrone Davis (19-3-1, 6 KOs), 30, of Wilmington, Delaware, as the sides told the organization that they have a deal, though the date and site have not yet been announced. The winner will become a mandatory for IBF/WBO titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly. Davis has won three in a row since a knockout loss to David Benavidez at super middleweight in November 2021 and is coming off an upset split decision over then-unbeaten Elijah Garcia in June. Oliha, who has fought either in Italy or Germany, has yet to face a notable opponent.
WBC women’s lightweight titlist Caroline Dubois (10-0-1, 5 KOs), 24, a British southpaw, will make her second defense against mandatory challenger Bo Mi Re Shin (18-2-3, 10 KOs). 30, of South Korea, on March 7 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Boxxer announced. “I think she is going to be a tough challenge, but I believe I’m levels above,” Dubois said. The bout is part of an all-women’s event headlined by the welterweight unification bout between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. Dubois settled for a third-round technical draw in her first defense against Jessica Camara on Jan. 11. Dubois scored a first-round knockdown but the bout was stopped two seconds into the third round due to a cut over Camara’s left eye from an accidental head clash.
Junior middleweight Sadriddin Akhmedov (15-0, 13 KOs), 27, a Kazakhstan native fighting out of Big Bear Lake, California, where he is trained by Abel Sanchez, and Elias Espadas (23-6, 16 KOs), 34, of Mexico, will square off in a 10-rounder that will headline on April 19 (UFC Fight Pass) at the Commerce Casino Events Center in Commerce, California, 360 Promotions announced. Espadas is coming off a win but has lost two of three, including by fifth-round KO to Xander Zayas in 2022.
The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame announced a 20-person class for its ninth annual induction weekend, which is scheduled for Sept. 26 to Sept. 28 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Fighters to be inducted are: Julian Jackson, Steve Collins, Charles Brewer, Junior Jones, Charles Murray, Curtis Parker, and Patrick Majewski. Special contributors: Sean O’Grady {analyst/fighter}, Tommy Brooks (trainer), Joe Cortez (referee), Jolene Mizzone (matchmaker/manager), Bernie Dillon (casino executive), Jeff Jowett (media), and Nick Tiberi Sr. (matchmaker). Posthumous: fighters Bert Cooper, Rocky Lockridge and Teddy Mann and trainer Cash White. Pioneers: Young Gene Buffalo (fighter) and Bob Botto (manager).
Show and tell
Zab Judah won six world title belts in two divisions, junior welterweight and welterweight, during a 23-year career of ups and downs. His biggest win by far came was when he went to Cory Spinks’ hometown of St. Louis and, in front of a packed house of more than 20,000 at the Savvis Center, knocked him out in the ninth round to avenge a decision loss from 10 months earlier and win the undisputed welterweight championship in the main event of a Don King-promoted Showtime card. The memorable fight took place on Feb. 5, 2005 — 20 years ago on Wednesday. Here is a gigantic and ultra rare site poster from the event and a ticket in my collection.
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Photos: Prograis: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing; Matias: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
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Aaaarrrggghhh!!!! I’m LEAVING Puerto Rico on March 1!
The perpetually stale Janibek getting a Main Event on ESPN? Yeesh. Feels like the last days of PBC at "Pick any Broadcaster". Is Top Rank just fulfilling contractual obligations at this point? With an eye on the door.