It’s not something Janibek Alimkhanuly had expected—to fight in an alien territory despite having the gold wrapped around his waist. But things have changed—the fight’s venue and what’s on stake. However, one thing remains the same: his burning desire to clinch more titles. Standing between his ambitions of unifying the division is Andrei Mikhailovich, who is trying to realize a similar destiny for himself by clinching Alimkhanuly’s IBF middleweight title. So, it’s a clash of strong willpower and mental fortitude. Who will crumble under pressure and who will carve out a space for himself in the 160-pound division?

The fight, initially slated for a July 13 showdown, had to be called off at the last minute when Alimkhanuly was rushed to the hospital because of dehydration and weight-cut issues. The unified middleweight champion is ready to make use of his lost time as he hopes on the plan to Sydney and tries to put on a show for the fans this Friday, October 4 at the Star Arena. What’s more? The fight offers fans a thick action, as the two fighters will go for a kill. Before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich: Tale of Tape

Alimkhanuly, at 31, is a terrorizing name in the division. The heavy puncher has carved out a name for himself with his devastating power and his unblemished record. His resume of 15-0 with 10 KOs speaks volumes about his boxing prowess, but you might need to have a look at the KO ratio of 66.67% to better realize why he is a threat in the division. In addition, the Zhilandy native has the tall stature to dictate the fight’s pace and impose his will. His height dimensions read 5′ 11½” (182 cm).

Alimkhanuly also has a reach of 71½” (182 cm), which he couples with his quick footwork and racks up wins. The dimensions might have intimidated anyone, but Mikhailovich is different. The New Zealander is looking to go down in history books to cement his legacy.

The challenge is the younger of the two at 26, yet he has more fights under his belt. His record of 21-0 with 13 KOs also gives a clear picture of what aided his swift rise in the ranks. You can label him a well-rounded boxer with the ability to churn out knockouts. Mikhailovich has a KO ratio of 61.9%, which doesn’t put him too far from the champion. Interestingly, nothing separates the two when it comes to height dimensions, as they share identical height. But it gets interesting with the Auckland native’s reach.

Mikhailovich has a longer reach of 74″ (189 cm), which he uses to land heavy punches first instead of hiding behind the jabs. It makes him a force of nature and a heavy boxer to deal with. But will it be enough to topple the champion?

Prediction: Who wins it?

What separates Alimkhanuly from the rest? It’s his aggression. ‘Qazaq Style’ has built his pro career on the solid bedrock of a strong amateur career, which includes a world championship gold. That’s not it. He knows when to land precision shots and when to unload heavy blows. Besides that, Alimkhanuly knows how to mix his speed, and his southpaw stance angles, all thanks to his high IQ. Whatever you do and whichever stance you are comfortable fighting with, Alimkhanuly would likely have an antidote.

For Mikhailovich, it certainly poses a problem, who has yet to face stiff competition. You add into the mix his chin vulnerability, visible in his fight with Edisson Saltarin, and it causes serious concern. However, he has won 7 of his 8 fights with aggression and KOs. Signaling that his reach is not for tagging around. But he remains unproven at the highest level. There is also a disparity in the caliber of opponents they have faced to date.

One can expect Alimkhanuly to dominate the fight early, work the body, and use his quick footwork and speed to bamboozle him. Meanwhile, Mikhailovich has every weapon in his arsenal to bag the win and cause an upset. Not to mention him fighting before the home crowd. It’s a tight fight, but one can champion to keep it methodical and clinical.

What do you make of this coming fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Andrei Mikhailovich? Who do you think will leave the arena with more titles? Let us know in the comments below.