Jaime Munguia vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly - WBO Interim Ordered

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jaime Munguia-Janibek Alimkhanuly Interim Title Fight Ordered By WBO

Jaime Munguia insisted following his latest win that he is ready to move toward a major title.

One sanctioning body is prepared to challenge that claim.

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has formally ordered an interim middleweight title fight between Tijuana’s Munguia (39-0, 31KOs) and Kazakhstan’s Janibek Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7KOs), the sanctioning body’s highest two ranked contenders in the division. Whereas Munguia has grown comfortable in stretching out his number-one ranking, the former WBO junior middleweight titlist and current top 160-pound contender is officially on the clock.

“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee orders the parties herein to commence the negotiations for the above-referenced bout between Jaime Munguia and [Janibek] Alimkhanuly,” Luis Batista-Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee noted to the promoters of both boxers via official letter, a copy of which was obtained by BS.com. “The parties are granted 10 days to reach an agreement.”

A purse bid hearing will be called if a deal is not reached by March 4. The minimum accepted bid for a WBO-sanctioned middleweight title fight is $200,000.

The order comes just three days after Munguia—co-promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions—turned away previously unbeaten D’Mitrius Ballard (21-1-1, 13KOs) this past Saturday at Plaza Monumental in his Tijuana hometown. The bout was his fifth at middleweight since abandoning his WBO junior middleweight title reign in late 2019. Munguia has emerged as the number-one contender in the eyes of the WBO and the WBC, though with public outcry for the unbeaten Mexican to either s(p)it or get off the pot.

As is the case with any ordered title fight, a refusal to participate will result in forfeiture of a top five ranking.

Alimkhanuly was originally ordered to next face WBO middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade (31-0, 19KOs), who instead is pursuing an interim WBO super middleweight title fight with England’s Zach Parker. That fight is due to appear before a purse bid later this week.

Andrade will have to win AND then decide in the ten days following the fight whether to remain at super middleweight—where he will become the WBO mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Saul ‘Canelo ‘Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) or return to middleweight. The latter will leave Providence’s Andrade on the hook to face the reigning interim middleweight titlist.

Alikmhanuly—promoted by Top Rank and managed by Egis Klimas—was previously in talks with fellow unbeaten middleweight Esquiva Falcao for such a fight. BS.com has learned that Brazil’s Falcao priced himself out of the fight, clearly with the intention of waiting out his already guaranteed shot at the IBF middleweight title.

Kazakhstan’s Allimkhanuly advanced to the front of the line following back-to-back eighth-round stoppage wins over former interim WBA titlists Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam.

If a fight materializes between Munguia and Alimkhanuly, the winner will become the mandatory to Andrade’s title or win the belt outright should Andrade opt to vacate at that point.

Should either side bow out of negotiations, England’s Danny Dignum—a recent Probellum signee—is expected to enter the title picture.

[DrDuke]

Pick em fight of the two fresh and hungry. Too good to happen, something must go wrong.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Pick em fight of the two fresh and hungry. Too good to happen, something must go wrong.

I second that..

[Bandog]

Will Munguia be labeled a duck if he turns it down? I hope they fight. Good fight that both guys need.

[margaret thatcher]

ya hopefully mung takes it and doesnt pull a boo boo

[gregregegg]

Will Munguia be labeled a duck if he turns it down? I hope they fight. Good fight that both guys need.

If he turns it down for something he cant justify he will be labled a duck... Fairly likely this will end up being for a vacant WBO not an interim WBO... For mung to justify a duck it he would have to be fighting a world champ, or a real money fight.

If he chose to fight a belt holder, or if Eubank made a big PPV offer, or mell charlo moved up to fight him, or if mung moved up and fought benivedez/berlanga. They are about the only fights id give him a pass on if he dips this fight.

[Enlightened-One]

I thought the WBO only recently announced an interim world title bout between Zhanibek Alikmhanuly versus Esquiva Falcao? They were so serious they even issued purse bid deadlines.

Oh well, I'm not complaining, because Jaime Munguia is a much better opponent for the Kazakhstani than the Brazilian would have been.

If this fight happens, which I seriously doubt it does, then I’d favour Zhanibek Alikmhanuly to score the upset over the inevitable betting favourite Jaime Munguia.

But if things play out as I expect them to, meaning this fight doesn’t happen, then we can only conclude that three ESPN top-ten world-rated middleweights, such as Demetrius Andrade, Jaime Munguia and Esquiva Falcao, would have all very recently ducked Zhanibek Alikmhanuly.

People should stop sleeping on Zhanibek Alikmhanuly and recognise the fact he’s probably one of top-five middleweights competing today.

[gregregegg]

I thought the WBO only recently announced an interim world title bout between Zhanibek Alikmhanuly versus Esquiva Falcao? They were so serious they even issued purse bid deadlines.

Oh well, I'm not complaining, because Jaime Munguia is a much better opponent for the Kazakhstani than the Brazilian would have been.

If this fight happens, which I seriously doubt it does, then I’d favour Zhanibek Alikmhanuly to score the upset over the inevitable betting favourite Jaime Munguia.

But if things play out as I expect them to, meaning this fight doesn’t happen, then we can only conclude that three ESPN top-ten world-rated middleweights, such as Demetrius Andrade, Jaime Munguia and Esquiva Falcao, would have all very recently ducked Zhanibek Alikmhanuly.

People should stop sleeping on Zhanibek Alikmhanuly and recognise the fact he’s probably one of top-five middleweights competing today.

I forgot andrade ducked him as mandatory. so why is this interim? you duck a mando you get stripped, you get stripped next person fights for vacant not interim.... so lets just strip andrade and make this for the full WBO world title.

[Enlightened-One]

I forgot andrade ducked him as mandatory. so why is this interim? you duck a mando you get stripped, you get stripped next person fights for vacant not interim.... so lets just strip andrade and make this for the full WBO world title.

I don't know why the WBO the made an exception for Andrade, unless they made allowances for one of their most generous benefactors (i.e. the sanctioning fees they receive from Eddie Hearn's stable of fighters).

[Bandog]

This has been discussed at length. (Andrade moving to 168 and vacating his belt)

No upside to stay at 160, getting froze out by the top guys/big $ fights. The horse is dead, quit beating it.

[Enlightened-One]

This has been discussed at length. (Andrade moving to 168 and vacating his belt)

The horse is dead, quit beating it.

You're absolutely spot on! Demetrius Andrade's "ducking" Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has already been discussed at length.

There's no point in repeatedly discussing Boo Boo's penchant for ducking top-tier world-rated fighters, such as Jermell Charlo, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Matt Korobov, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly and also the winner of the Lara-Hurd title unification.

[764315]

dude, is it even possible?

[Evander]

On a glance Alimkhanuly is decorated as an amateur but it was some time ago.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

jani waiting on these cats

[Ruthless-RKO]

jani waiting on these cats

Munguia is considering an offer from Jermall.

Can see it now. Jermall vs. Munguia - Showtime PPV.

[apollo creed]

jani waiting on these cats

Munguia is considering an offer from Jermall.

Can see it now. Jermall vs. Munguia - Showtime PPV.

This.

[Ruthless-RKO]

jani waiting on these cats

Munguia is considering an offer from Jermall.

Can see it now. Jermall vs. Munguia - Showtime PPV.

This.

Mung already said no to fighting Andrade, now he doesn’t wanna fight Jani as well.

But fighting Jermall instead isn’t bad.

He’s been very inactive.

[Enlightened-One]

I’m not entirely sure about the reason why the WBO hasn’t ordered the purse bid for the Munguia-Alimkhanuly fight yet, since their ten-day negotiation deadline has already expired.

It’s looking increasingly like that Jaime Munguia will join Demetrius Andrade and Esquiva Falcao, to become the third fighter within the last couple of months to refuse to face Alimkhanuly.

According to the rumour-mill, Danny Dignum is the next in line to participate in the WBO world interim championship against Alimkhanuly, but I’m not entirely sure why that’s case, considering Chris Eubank Jr. is ranked above him.

Unfortunately though, the fighters included in the WBO’s top-15 middleweight rankings are fairly poor, so the unheralded man from Kazakhstan will probably be ordered to face a lacklustre opponent.

I genuinely believe that Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is the real deal and his resume is fairly decent, but he seems to have hit a glass ceiling, because he can’t progress his career to the next level, due to the fact no one wants to fight him.

And the most frustrating thing is that he’s a Top Rank fighter, with Bob Arum notoriously bad at investing in marquee bouts for his fighters.

Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has become a member of the “who needs you club?”, because he’s high-risk low-reward, coupled with the fact his promoter isn’t doing a very good job progressing his career and orchestrating meaningful bouts.

[apollo creed]

Munguia is considering an offer from Jermall.

Can see it now. Jermall vs. Munguia - Showtime PPV.

This.

Mung already said no to fighting Andrade, now he doesn’t wanna fight Jani as well.

But fighting Jermall instead isn’t bad.

He’s been very inactive.

Lets hope this fight gets made somehow.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBO Moves On From Jaime Munguia, Orders Janibek Alimkhanuly-Danny Dignum Interim Title Fight

Jaime Munguia has spent the past several days mulling offers for separate paths toward a middleweight title.

It appears that the choice has been made for him.

BS.com has learned that Munguia’s team is in advanced talks for a potential showdown with two-division and reigning WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22KOs). A deal has yet to be reached for the fight which—as previously reported by BS.com senior writer/columnist Keith Idec—is being targeted for mid-June or July.

News of the developments serves as a source of frustration to the WBO, who has been generous to a fault in confirming Munguia’s prior commitment to a WBO interim middleweight title fight with Janibek Alimkhanuly. The fight was ordered February 22 by the sanctioning body, coming with a 10-day deadline for the two sides to reach a deal to avoid a purse bid hearing.

That level of generosity has run out, as the sanctioning body has moved on from that fight. The WBO has now ordered a new interim title fight between Kazakhstan’s Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7KOs) and England’s Danny Dignum (14-0-1, 8KOs).

“The WBO has granted Team Munguia enough time to proceed with the bout as ordered,” Luis Batista-Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee confirmed in an official letter to Alimkhanuly and Dignum, a copy of which was obtained by BS.com. “Therefore, considering their refusal and lack of interest to fight [Janibek] Alimkhanuly, this Committee shall proceed ordering negotiations with Team Danny Dignum accordingly.

“The parties herein have 10 days to reach an agreement. If an accord is not reached within the time frame outlined herein, a purse bid ceremony will be ordered per WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO Middleweight Division is $200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars). Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid ceremony at any time during the negotiation process.”

Alimkhanuly is represented by Top Rank and manager Egis Klimas. Dignum is represented in talks by MTK Global’s Lee Eaton, though having recently signed with Probellum. The round of talks will put Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and Probellum co-founder Richard Schaefer—longtime promotional rivals—at the negotiating table and on opposite sides of the promotion should this fight move forward.

The announcement comes after more than a week of waiting out Munguia, whose team previously assured the sanctioning body of the Tijuana native’s intention to move forward with the interim title fight. Alimkhanuly was stuck in a holding pattern, an already frustrating scenario for the unbeaten Kazakh middleweight who is now on his fourth ordered middleweight title fight.

Alimkhanuly emerged as the mandatory challenger to WBO middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade (31-0, 19KOs), fittingly benefiting from Munguia declining for a second time to enforce his status to challenge for the title. The WBO ordered Andrade-Alimkhanuly last November 30, with a 20-day deadline for the two sides to reach terms. A purse bid hearing was ordered to take place January 14, only to endure three postponements and an outright cancellation once the fight was taken off the table.

Andrade— a 2008 U.S. Olympian and former two-time junior middleweight titlist who has held the WBO middleweight title since October 2018—was permitted to revisit previously explored plans for an interim super middleweight title fight with England’s Zach Parker. The WBO initially rejected the idea when Andrade took too long to reach a deal, only to put the fight back in play once undisputed WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) confirmed his plans to next fight outside the division.

With that development came the call for Alimkhanuly to face Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao for the interim middleweight title. The pair of secondary title fights were approved by the WBO on the condition that Andrade decides within ten days of his fight with Parker—which is scheduled for May 21 in England—to confirm whether to return to middleweight or stay at super middleweight. The former would require Andrade to next face the interim middleweight titlist, who would receive an upgrade to full titlist in the event Andrade opts for the latter and remains at super middleweight.

For now, Alimkhanuly is still without an opponent although all indications point to Dignum moving forward with the fight.

Falcao removed himself from the mix, instead opting to remain put as the IBF mandatory challenger. The unbeaten Brazilian—a 2012 Olympic Silver medalist—will have to wait at least through the end of the year. Reigning IBF middleweight champ Gennadiy Golovkin (41-1-1, 36KOs) is set to next face WBA titleholder Ryota Murata in a title unification bout April 9 in Saitama, Japan. A win by Golovkin will reportedly set up a long-sought trilogy clash with Alvarez on September 17 on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

The removal of Falcao led to the fight being offered to Munguia, who was coming off a third-round knockout of D’Mitrius Ballard on February 13 in his Tijuana hometown. Munguia spent more than two weeks sitting on the opportunity, before the sanctioning body received the information it needed to hear in moving forward with the next highest ranked challenger.

Dignum enters the equation on the heels of a sixth-round knockout just one month ago at the famed York Hall in Bethnal Green, London. The 29-year-old southpaw signed with upstart promotional company Probellum soon thereafter, while still represented by managerial conglomerate MTK Global who will take the lead in current negotiations.

[margaret thatcher]

jani da boogeyman