Andrei Mikhilovich v Janibek Alimkhanuly IBF World Title fight: the latest news and updates

Friday night’s world title fight descended into a farce before the bell rung, but despite the wrong national anthem being played for middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, the Kazakh king took care of business.

Janibek Alimkhanuly wanted to make Andrei Mikhailovich pay.

For all the disrespect – real or perceived – the Kazakh middleweight world champion suffered during fight week.

For being made to travel to Australia at all.

For the fight day drama surrounding the status of his WBO world title.

For the same day weigh in.

And for the final insult of having the wrong national anthem being played moments before the fight started.

Janibek Alimkhanuly (blue and yellow) v Andrei Mikhailovich (black) at the No Limit- Fight Night at The Star on the 4th October 2024 . Picture: No Limit Boxing

This was punishment, pure and simple.

The coolest man involved in an at-times volatile fight week, Janibek barely looked perturbed when the old version of the Kazakh national anthem – which hasn’t been in use since 2006 – was played over the PA system.

He was rarely troubled once the fight began either.

“I could have finished him in the second round, but I didn’t – I wanted to work a little bit,” Janibek said afterwards.

“He was talking a lot during the press conference and after the press conference. I just thought ‘I’m going to bring him pain’.

“Knocking him out in the second round would have been easy. I wore him down and, as you can see, he took a lot of punishment for what he did.”

Mikhailovich – the orphaned kid who has battled back from addiction – showed tremendous heart on the way to a ninth round TKO loss.

Janibek Alimkhanuly deals out punishment to Andrei Mikhailovich in the IBF middleweight title bout. Picture: No Limit Boxing

But it was all Janibek, who showboated and at times looked like he was trying to get some rounds in to make the trip worthwhile.

Kiwi challenger was game in the first round, living up to his pre-fight bravado, but by the second Janibek proved he was fighting at a different level.

A big left hand could have spelled the end for Mikhailovich, and the Kazakh could have stopped it at any point in the final minute of the second frame.

Andrei Mikhailovich hit the deck in the second round but was allowed to continue - and survived for another five rounds. Picture: No Limit Boxing

The referee could have called it off as well, as Mikhailovich was on wobbly legs and barely able to defend himself.

He finally stumbled to the canvas as the bell sounded to end the round, but bravely regrouped and even went on the attack – as desperate as it was – in the third and fourth.

Meanwhile, Janibek took the fight wherever he wanted it to go. He fought in the clinch, countered and showed off his footwork moving backwards.

Andrei Mikhailovich lands a punch as he defended his IBF title. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Mikhailovich always had a puncher’s chance, and showed phenomenal heart throughout the fight as he kept walking forward and looking for a knockout blow.

But, despite his heart, he took more punishment with each round.

Having dished out enough payback, Janibek mercifully stepped it up a gear in the final seconds of the ninth round, battering the Kiwi into the ropes before the ref called it off.

A devastated and valiant Mikhailovich fell into the arms of his longtime trainer Isaac Peach as Janibek celebrated.

Relive the action from Friday night’s fights live below.

Originally published as Andrei Mikhilovich v Janibek Alimkhanuly IBF World Title fight: the latest news and updates