Tensions flared during a chaotic press conference in Sydney, as IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and New Zealand’s Andrei Mikhailovich nearly came to blows ahead of their title fight on Friday. The heated exchange took place at Fox Sports Australia’s headquarters, where Mikhailovich, clearly amped for the fight, shouted, “I’m going to f&%$ing kill you,” at Janibek. The situation quickly escalated as Mikhailovich and his team clashed with Janibek’s camp, including his brother and agent Egis Klimas, who had flown in from Kazakhstan. Staffers had to step in and separate the two sides before things got physical.
Mikhailovich, the newest fighter signed to Australian promoters No Limit, wasted no time in making headlines ahead of the biggest fight of his career. During the press conference, he threw insults at Janibek’s team, even calling Klimas – one of the most influential figures in boxing – the “cookie monster.” Tensions rose further when Mikhailovich and Janibek’s brother got into a verbal altercation, with Mikhailovich telling him to “shut the f#$% up” and warning him to “watch yourself.” Klimas fired back, and the back-and-forth nearly boiled over before cooler heads prevailed.
The bad blood between the two fighters is rooted in their previously scheduled bout, which was supposed to take place in Las Vegas in July. However, Janibek withdrew at the last minute after collapsing during a weight cut and needing hospitalization. Mikhailovich’s team accused Janibek of not even trying to make weight for that fight, calling him a “disgrace to boxing.” The weight issue has remained a central focus leading up to the rescheduled fight, with Janibek set to weigh in twice under IBF rules – once on Thursday and again on Friday morning, ensuring both fighters are within 10 pounds of the middleweight limit.
Watch their press conference here: Watch
Throughout the fiery press conference, Janibek remained mostly silent, letting his brother handle the insults and calls for respect. Speaking beforehand, the champion promised to finish Mikhailovich within the first round, saying, “He’s just a regular fighter. We don’t see any dangers in him.” Despite the trash talk from Mikhailovich, Janibek remained unfazed, insisting that the ring is his home no matter where the fight takes place, be it “Australia or Mars.”
As for concerns about his weight and the short notice for the fight, Janibek’s team defended their decision to fly into Sydney just two days before the bout. Klimas explained that they wanted to maximize Janibek’s preparation time in Kazakhstan, accusing No Limit of giving them no choice by announcing the fight with just 29 days to prepare. Nevertheless, Janibek expressed confidence, stating, “I’ve learned my lesson from July. I’m a different fighter now, and I understand a lot of things.” With emotions running high, this fight promises to be an explosive showdown in the ring.
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Image Credit: Top Rank