Talks stall between Janibek Alimkhanuly and unlikely challenger Shakiel Thompson

Talks between IBF and WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and Englishman Shakiel Thompson have hit a stalemate.

The money on offer for the 13-0 (9 KOs) Thompson, who is No. 9 with the WBO, was not enough and a source close to the Sheffield southpaw said Thompson has been advised to take a different route. 

There had been hopes that Thompson might take on the Kazakh star in a homecoming for the champion in the spring.

Thompson stormed the ratings last year with a third-round victory over River Wilson-Bent in Sheffield in September, and he is due to have his first fight of 2025 next Friday night, against 17-5-1 (14 KOs) Hamisi Maya, on a show promoted by GBM and televised on DAZN.

The bout takes place at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield.