Boxing news 2024: Andrei Mikhailovich’s trainer defends fiery viral press conference blow up
Andrei Mikhailovich’s trainer has defended his viral explosive blow up at Wednesday’s press conference, saying what Janibek Alimkhanuly’s team did ‘ruined our lives’ at today’s weigh ins.
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Andrei Mikhailovich’s trainer, Isaac Peach has defended his fiery outburst with Janibek Alimkhanuly’s brother at Wednesday’s press conference, saying the Kazakhstani’s team “ruined our lives” by withdrawing from their scheduled bout in July.
After weeks of heated build-up, Janibek (72.38kg) and Mikhailovich (72.54kg) both comfortably made weight on Thursday, ahead of “Qazak Style’s” IBF middleweight world title defence at The Star in Sydney on Friday night.
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But the action nearly kicked off two days early when Peach and Mikhailovich were escorted from Fox Studios as tensions flared after a testy press conference on Wednesday.
Footage of the spicy incident went viral on social media, with many taking aim at Peach’s aggression.
But the tatted up Kiwi trainer is sticking to his guns.
He says Janibek’s late withdrawal ahead of their scheduled fight in July cost thousands of dollars and time away from family.
“They gave us three months and ruined our lives,” Peach told this masthead. “It cost us money and time.
“It’s time away from family as well. We had family fly over and spend thousands of dollars to watch us.
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Andrei Mikhailovich talks about yesterdayâs wild press conference drama. https://t.co/OM1rCFCMeH#boxing#JanibekMikhailovich@ausboxing@NoLimit_Boxingpic.twitter.com/7cE1jIGfDq
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) October 3, 2024
“So it’s not just us, it’s family, friends and supporters. It was heart breaking.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did, but he came across the room to us, and my job as a trainer is to defend my fighter and not take a backward step.
“He was just a dickhead.”
Meanwhile, Mikhailovich – who looked relaxed after hitting the scales on Thursday afternoon – says Janibek’s own promoter doesn’t even care about him.
In fact, the undefeated Kiwi says Top Rank boss Bob Arum wanted to sign him.
Mikhailovich,’s promoter No Limit outbid Janibek’s Top Rank by just $1000 to win the purse bid for the fight, meaning the Kazakh world champ was forced to travel to Sydney for the fight.
“Top Rank don’t care about you, bro,” Mikhailovich said. “If they did, they would have outbid No Limit.
“When he pulled out in Vegas, Top Rank though, ‘Stuff this, we’ve lost money on this, it’s a muck around’.
“Bob Arum came to see me in Vegas and personally visited me.
“He just said, ‘Andrei, you’ve got such an amazing story, wow, we wish we had you’.
“I was just like, man, I appreciate that.
“I’m promoting this whole thing, welcome to the Andrei Mikhailovich show.”
Thursday’s weigh in didn’t feature the same level of tension of Wednesday’s presser, but Mikhailovich revealed he had yet another heated exchange with Janibeks’ manager Egis Klimas moments after weighing in.
“He’s an idiot,” Mikhailovich said. “The limit is 72.57 – note the seven. I hopped on and was 72.54 – three grams under.
“He was like, ‘You must go for a run’ and I just said, ‘Babushka, shut up, I got it right’.”
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Originally published as Boxing news 2024: Andrei Mikhailovich’s trainer defends fiery viral press conference blow up