29-year-old Kazakh boxer Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is the last middleweight world champion of the WBO and is currently one of the main stars of the category. He is called the new Gennady Golovkin, but here the analogies are only in the weight category, where representatives of Kazakhstan are boxing.

A very talented and intelligent athlete who really claimed both the absolute championship and the direct victory over Gennady Golovkin.

Alimkhanuly won almost everything in amateurs. But amateur boxing has no main prize

Alimkhanuly started boxing in his hometown of Zhilandy. There he came to Murat Sihimbaev’s boxing department and worked with this trainer throughout his amateur career. Even when Zhanibek moved to Almaty, they continued to work there with Sihimbayev.

A long and fruitful collaboration brought both of them almost every possible boxing award in amateur boxing. Kazakh boxing school is ingenious and original, and it is often very difficult to break all opponents. But Alimkhanuly succeeded – in 2012 he won the Kazakhstan championship and went to the international arena.

The first major international victory came in 2013 at the Asian Championships. From there, Zhanibek went to the World Championships – and again success. In the final of the tournament, the Kazakh athlete competed with the Irishman Jason Quigley.

In general, the only thing to get in the amateurs was the gold medal of the Olympics, but this did not work out. Alimkhanuly took part in the 2016 tournament. He beat Anthony Fowler for the first time, then Ilyas Abbadi, but failed to beat Azerbaijan representative Kamrat Shahsuvarly in the quarterfinals. Zhanibek always called the Kazakh boxer Serik Konakbaev as his idol. He won the 1980 Olympics medal, but silver. Zhanibek could not even do this, but, unlike his idol, became the world champion.

After that, things were going well in the amateurs, but there were no crazy successes. Even before the Olympics, Alimkhanuly participated in semi-professional fights – he won both fights, one of which finished ahead of schedule. But after the Olympics, he could not win any major victories. The last tournament of a career in amateurs is the Kazakhstan championship. There Zhanibek lost – to 19-year-old Mikhail Kokhanchik in the quarterfinals. A true sense of championship and the ultimate for amateurs.

As a professional Alimkhanuly is excellent. But I haven’t met the tops yet

Still, there is a feeling that all the good words and predictions for the Kazakh boxer are a little bit ahead. Although his boxing definitely deserves all the praise.

For six years professionally, Janibek has managed to prove that he can do anything in the ring. Classic modern Kazakh boxing school. Quick hands, south claw stance, a great punch, and the ability to explode with a knockout attack at any time. Twelve victories, eight by knockout and not a single defeat. Everything is great here.

In 2021, the Kazakh fighter faced Hassan N’Dam Njinkan, a well-known boxer for Ukrainian fans. The French once arguably defeated Avtandil Hurtsidze and, by decision of the judges, defeated Maxim Bursak.
The boxer is not only quite famous, but also helpless. Boxing with everyone and getting into a fight from the first seconds. Njinkam defeated Ryote Murata and faced fighters like Callum Smith and Martin Murray. By the way, the latter also won.

Zhanibek defeated his opponent in eight rounds. It looks like a huge success. But still, Hassan was at that stage of his career at that moment, and this defeat turned out to be final. Also noteworthy is Alimkhanuly’s victory over Danny Dignum in May 2022. The perfect uppercut is already in the second round, and before that the invincible boxer was completely out.

So this is Golovkin’s successor or not?

In terms of technique and skills, this is a completely new part of the Cossack reign in the middleweight division. Smart footwork, punching power, technique and, as they say, the highest level of boxing IQ. Golovkin is still a fan of the fight. Here the man is clever enough to destroy opponents well and technically.

Although it’s a matter of taste, his boxing looks almost the best in the category. But it’s too early to jump forward. Zhanibek’s record is no longer the best opponent. And it won’t be in the near future – he’s boxing against the mighty Denzel Bentley on November 12. It is wrong to underestimate the British. He is young, strong, flexible. But it’s not scale compared to what Alimkhanuly is wearing now. Middleweight leader.

Just to understand: In the next fight, the Cossack is the favorite from 1.06 to 8.50. Bentley’s victory is potentially the biggest upset of the year.

Still, we all expect other scales from Zhanibek. For example – the fight against Gennady Golovkin. An unexpected story, but as a reunion why not? Gennady has two belts – WBA and IBF, Alimkhanuly has WBO. This is a great time to find out who is stronger. Also, there is another champion, according to WBC, and that’s Jermall Charlo. It is unlikely that the American money machine will be left to a Kazakh in the near future. Despite being talked about literally every day.

The most likely and most interesting option available is Carlos Adames. Technical victory over Sergey Derevyanchenko became the next step for the man on the path to the championship. In 2022, he managed to knock down another colleague in three rounds and is now in first place in the ratings on the same WBC.

Another option is Jaime Munguia, the main contender of the WBO generation. But that’s only if the Mexicans decide to risk it all. And such a desire did not go unnoticed when they were behind them. But for both Mungiya and Alimkhanula the test would be perfect. And it would meet many of the expectations of both potential division leaders.