Carlos Adames has made it clear that a showdown with Janibek Alimkhanuly remains his top priority, describing the potential fight as “personal” and pushing for it to happen as soon as possible.
The bout, once viewed as one of the best possible matchups at middleweight, was derailed after Alimkhanuly returned an adverse finding for Meldonium from a VADA test, leading to the cancellation of his planned unification fight with Erislandy Lara. The Kazakh fighter was subsequently stripped of his IBF title and handed a one-year suspension by the WBO.
Despite those complications, Adames is eager to make the fight, insisting he is ready whenever the opportunity arises. “The situation between Janibek and me is personal,” he said, adding that he hopes the bout is made soon for the benefit of fans and to settle their differences in the ring.
Adames returned in March after nearly 13 months out, defending his WBC title with a dominant unanimous decision win over Austin Williams, including a knockdown in the second round. The victory marked his third successful defense and reinforced his position at the top of the division.
While the 31-year-old has expressed willingness to face opponents across multiple weight classes, including names like Lester Martinez, Osleys Iglesias, and a rematch with Hamzah Sheeraz, it is the clash with Alimkhanuly that carries the most weight. “I would love for him to show me… inside the ring,” Adames said.
Image Credit: The Ring