WASHINGTON: Kazakh southpaw Janibek Alimkhanuly delivered a spectacular performance by stopping Germany’s Vincenzo Gualtieri in the sixth round, unifying two middleweight world boxing titles.
In a showdown of unbeaten champions, Alimkhanuly kept his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title and claimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) crown, marking his 10th victory inside the distance.
Alimkhanuly, with a professional record of 15-0, showcased exceptional endurance and precision in the ring, proving his mettle against Gualtieri, who fell to 21-1 with one draw. The Kazakh boxer’s relentless power punches and stinging jabs overwhelmed Gualtieri.
In the fifth round, Alimkhanuly landed a stunning left uppercut to Gualtieri’s chin, setting the tone for a dominant performance. The decisive moment came early in the sixth round when Alimkhanuly delivered another left uppercut, followed by a barrage of punishing lefts. Referee David Fields had no choice but to stop the fight after just one minute and 25 seconds of the sixth round.
After the victory, Alimkhanuly expressed his desire to unify more titles and compete for an undisputed crown. The other world champions in the 160-pound division are Jermall Charlo (World Boxing Council) and Erislandy Lara (World Boxing Association).
Alimkhanuly’s style of fighting reflects the rich boxing tradition of Kazakhstan. His impressive amateur background includes being a 2013 world amateur champion, 2014 Asian Games gold medalist, and a 2016 Olympian.
With this victory, Alimkhanuly has solidified his status as a dominant force in the middleweight division, leaving fans and experts eagerly anticipating his next bout on the path to boxing greatness.
