The 160-pound middleweight world champion has issued a direct challenge to Canelo Alvarez, joining the growing list of contenders eager to face the Mexican star. This callout comes at a crucial time for Alvarez, who has a packed 2025 schedule after signing a lucrative deal with influential Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh.
Alvarez is set to fight William Scull on May 3, aiming to reclaim his status as the undisputed champion at 168 pounds. If victorious, he is expected to face Terence Crawford in a high-profile showdown in September. Additionally, his contract with Alalshikh includes two more fights, with names like Dmitry Bivol potentially on the horizon.
However, Janibek Alimkhanuly, the reigning IBF and WBO middleweight champion, has expressed his willingness to move up in weight to challenge Alvarez. “There’s a lot happening at middleweight—Hamzah Sheeraz, [Erislandy] Lara, and Carlos Adames. Those guys are good, but they are out of our range. They’re not in my capacities,” Alimkhanuly told Boxing Scene.
“I’m not looking for number twos. I’m trying to get number ones, like Canelo and the other top fighters. Since 160 is not an issue, I can move up, and I can also move back down. I see no problems in terms of timing or ability. I have enough capacity,” he added.
Janibek Alimkhanuly of Kazakhstan poses with the referee after defeating Rob Brant in a middleweight bout at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on June 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alimkhanuly won by TKO after the eighth round. Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Alimkhanuly: A new challenge for Canelo?
Alimkhanuly, widely regarded as one of the most avoided world champions in boxing, has struggled to secure unification bouts and high-profile opportunities. Still, the Kazakh fighter remains determined to challenge Alvarez, convinced that he has the skills to defeat him. Having dominated the 160-pound division, Alimkhanuly is now seeking greater challenges, with his next title defense set to take place on home soil against Anauel Ngamissengue this weekend.
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His pursuit of a showdown with Alvarez adds another layer to the Mexican star’s already captivating career. Whether Alvarez accepts or dismisses Alimkhanuly’s challenge—along with speculation about a potential bout with Jake Paul—will keep the boxing world on edge.
Is a Canelo-Alimkhanuly fight realistic?
The likelihood of Alimkhanuly securing a fight with Alvarez remains uncertain, given the latter’s status as one of boxing’s biggest commercial draws. Constantly called out by various challengers, Alvarez already has a structured schedule for 2025, with his bout against Crawford as a major highlight. Given his standing in the sport, he is more likely to prioritize high-revenue fights over matchups with rising contenders.
