The discomfort Janibek Alimkhanuly felt by falling ill during his July weight-cut period before fighting Andrei Mikhailovich is compounded now that he’s discovered a purse-bid loss is likely sending his bout to Australia.
“I have no words. What is this?” Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) asked his promoter Top Rank, its chairman Bob Arum and Vice President of Boxing Operations Carl Moretti Tuesday.
Alimkhanuly was responding to the breaking news by veteran boxing writer Dan Rafael of “Fight Freaks Unite” that No Limit Boxing, who also handle the career of former junior-middleweight champion Tim Tszyu of Australia, bested Top Rank by a mere $1,000 ($351,000 to $350,000) for the right to promote the postponed bout.
As contender to IBF and WBO middleweight champion Alimkhanuly, Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs) can now watch events transpire with his team empowered to dictate the venue for the bout.
A four-decade veteran of the fight game, Moretti said he has “never before” seen a purse bid decided by $1,000.
“They (No Limit) have the rights to put on the fight within three months – by the end of the year,” Moretti said. “What they do with the fight is up to them.”
Alimkhanuly was hospitalized by severe dehydration July 12 – one day before he was to meet Mikhailovich at The Palms in Las Vegas.
The unified champion has spoken on social media of seeking a bout against WBC champion Carlos Adames for months, but first he has to conquer Mikhailovich, the strain of making weight – and now this impending road trip.
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