Janibek-Mikhailovich showdown confirmed for Oct 4

ANDREI Mikhailovich will finally challenge Janibek Alimkhanuly for the IBF middleweight title in Syndey, Australia on October 4.

The pair were supposed to meet on July 13 in Las Vegas but undefeated champion Janibek was hospitalised due to dehydration before they weighed in.

As a result, the fight went back to purse bids and it was No Limit Boxing, who promote Mikhailovich, who beat Top Rank for the rights to stage it.

Now it has been confirmed that the pair will fight at the Star in Sydney next month with Janibek’s IBF title on the line. It has been reported that the WBO belt will not be on the line, meaning both mean will be subject to the customary second IBF weigh in on the morning of the fight.

Janibek, 31, says he is happy to box the 21-0 New Zealander in Australia because of his compatriots’ success at the Sydney Olympics.

He said: “In the Olympic Games in Sydney, two Kazakh boxers won gold. Bekzat Sattarhanov and Yermakhan Ibraimov inspired many Kazakhs. I grew up with a dream to glorify my country like them. I am very happy that I will box in Sydney.

“I want to show the world my flag in Sydney once again, as our Olympic champions did in 2000. The fight with Andrei is very important to me because he is an official contender for my title.

“He is like a cloud for me now. I must quickly get rid of the cloud to see the sun. Everyone knows and understands that he is easy work for me. I will knock him out very quickly.”