Kazakhstan's Janibek Alimkhanuly is making waves in the middleweight division, drawing comparisons to his legendary compatriot, Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin. Both former Olympians and world middleweight champions, Alimkhanuly and Golovkin share more than just roots, as they each bring a similar “Kazakh Style” to the ring - a blend of power, precision, and pressure.
Golovkin, known for his knockout power and relentless pursuit of opponents, became an icon with an impressive 42-2-1 record and 37 knockouts. His journey to greatness included a decade-long unbeaten streak, highlighted by his 2017 showdown with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, which ended in a controversial draw that many still debate. Golovkin would go on to face Canelo twice more, with the trilogy ultimately favoring Alvarez. GGG's final record speaks to his legacy as one of the hardest-hitting middleweights of his generation.
Alimkhanuly has carved his own path, winning both the WBO and IBF middleweight titles and remaining undefeated. After capturing the WBO title in 2023 with a dominant win over Steven Butler and then stopping Vincenzo Gualtieri for the IBF belt, Janibek defended his titles against Andrei Mikhailovich earlier this year. His precision and knockout power have many wondering if he will become Kazakhstan’s next great champion.
The next logical step for Alimkhanuly is unification. With opponents like WBA champion Erislandy Lara and WBC titleholder Carlos Adames on his radar, Alimkhanuly could continue following in GGG's footsteps by bringing multiple titles back to Kazakhstan.
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