Kiwi boxer Andrei Mikhailovic plots revenge mission as world title fight announced for Sydney on NRL Grand Final weekend
NRL Grand Final weekend just got even bigger for boxing fans who love footy, with a world title fight confirmed in Sydney.
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NRL Grand Final weekend in Sydney will kick off with a middleweight world title fight between IBF champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and New Zealand challenger Andrei Mikhailovic.
The hugely anticipated IBF middleweight showdown will take place at The Star on Friday, October 4 – two days before the NRL decider in the Harbour City.
The bout was initially scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in July, but was cancelled after Janibek fell ill during his weight cut.
And after being made to travel all the way to Vegas before being left in the lurch, Mikhailovic promises to make Janibek pay.
“I live in the present, but I certainly haven’t forgotten the past,” he said. “I respect him as the champion but I know that he doesn’t respect me.
“It’s why I look forward to taking absolutely everything from him.
“This is my destiny, it’s my everything. I will stop at nothing to make sure the world remembers the name Andrei Mikhailovich.”
No Limit Boxing won the IBF purse bid in remarkable fashion, out-bidding Top Rank by just $1000 earlier this month.
There was speculation the fight could be added to Tim Tszyu’s IBF world title tilt against Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando in October, but will instead be held in Sydney.
For Kazakhstan’s Janibek, it’s a chance to follow in the footsteps of his heroes.
“In the Olympic Games in Sydney, two Kazakh boxers won gold,” he said. “Bekzat Sattarhanov and Yermakhan Ibragimov 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.”
Janibek has earned a reputation as one of the hardest hitting, and most-avoided fighters on the planet.
A 2016 Olympian, Janibek first won the WBO interim title in 2022 and unified with a savage sixth round TKO win over Vincenzo Gualtieri last year.
“The fight with Andrei is very important to me because he is an official contender for my title,” he said. “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!”
The card will be televised on Fox Sports and Kayo Sport in Australia and on ESPN+ in America.
“It’s a mouth-watering match up where Janibek’s powerful and dominant reign as the number one middleweight in the world meets Andrei’s undefeated drive and determination,” No Limit CEO George Rose said.
“It’s well documented that nobody was wanting to take on the champion, but Andrei isn’t your everyday fighter.
“This is set to be a cracker of a fight and a genuine highlight for boxing enthusiasts around the world.”
Originally published as Kiwi boxer Andrei Mikhailovic plots revenge mission as world title fight announced for Sydney on NRL Grand Final weekend
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