Janibek Alimkhanuly

Janibek Alimkhanuly was born on April 1, 1993, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The rising Kazakh sensation began his boxing journey at the age of six due to his grandfather's deep cultural appreciation for the sport. Although he experienced a loss in his first amateur fight just before his next birthday, Alimkhanuly went on to have an impressive amateur career. As an adult, he won gold medals at the 2013 World Championships, and the 2013 and 2014 Asian Championships, and even represented Kazakhstan in the middleweight division at the 2016 Summer Olympics. His remarkable skill set, diligent work ethic, and notable achievements served as an inspiration for the success of fellow Kazakh boxers.

Alimkhanuly made his professional debut on October 29, 2016, in his hometown of Almaty, Kazakhstan, against Milton Núñez. Six years later, he would become the WBO interim champion by defeating Danny Dignum. Eventually, he solidified his status as the WBO Champion by defeating Denzel Bentley. The modern Soviet-style boxer has recently taken the middleweight division by storm, reminiscent of a young Gennady Golovkin. Alimkhanuly demonstrated his dominance when he dropped Steven Butler three times to retain the middleweight WBO world title in 2023, contributing to Kazakhstan's continued success in the Middleweight division.

Alimkhanuly, renowned for his self-proclaimed Qazaq Style, has achieved success in the middleweight division comparable to fellow countryman Gennady Golovkin. He embodies the modern-day southpaw with classical Soviet discipline, showcasing incredible pacing and delivering devastating combinations. Many speculate that Alimkhanuly will join the ranks of modern greats hailing from the old world, such as Gennady Golovkin, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, and Dmitry Bivol.

Alimkhanuly's boxing style is a seamless blend of technical finesse and explosive power. Operating as a middleweight fighter, he exhibits exceptional footwork and head movement, enabling precise ring navigation and evasion of incoming strikes. His defensive skills and formidable offensive repertoire differentiate him from the typical Classical Eastern European boxer. Alimkhanuly wields sharp jabs, potent lead hooks, and some of the most feared uppercuts in the boxing world. His mastery of footwork and head movement keeps him elusive and unpredictable from every angle of the sport. Since moving to America, the southpaw stance has made him an even greater threat in the realm of pound-for-pound boxing. He has developed a modern Philly shell defensive style that complements his footwork, enhancing his overall defensive capabilities. Alimkhanuly's jab is a weapon that breaks guards, and his compact lead hook and dynamic six-punch combinations compel even the best middleweights to contend with him up close.