Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri | ESPN - October 14, 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sources: Janibek Alimkhanuly, Vincenzo Gualtieri to unify titles

Janibek Alimkhanuly and Vincenzo Gualtieri have agreed to unify middleweight titles Oct. 14 in Rosenberg, Texas, sources told ESPN.

Alimkhanuly, the WBO's 160-pound champion, will headline a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card for the fourth consecutive outing. A 30-year-old from Kazakhstan, Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs) is ESPN's No. 2-ranked middleweight. The southpaw has made two defenses, both against fringe contenders.

He is coming off a second-round KO of Steven Butler in May.

Gualtieri (21-0-1, 7 KOs) has never competed outside of his native Germany. The 30-year-old, who is ranked No. 9 at middleweight by ESPN, won the vacant IBF title last month with a decision over Esquiva Falcão.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Nice to see unifications.

[margaret thatcher]

id never heard of vinny before last fight but he beat falcao pretty clearly for a solid title win, seemed decent

[apollo creed]

Thats quite refreshing in nowadays boxing. Enough with keeping the belts and the 0's safe.

[Bandog]

Nice to see unifications.

You mean it WOULD be nice to see unifications?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Nice to see unifications.

You mean it WOULD be nice to see unifications?

Well this WOULD be.

[Monzon83]

Good for 160 titles to get unified. The division seems to be getting ignored with guys jumping from 47/54 to 68.

Historically it was one of the blue riband division outside of HW for most of the last century.

Janibek should get this done. And then beat the Charlo sister and get all the straps.

[Bandog]

Nice to see unifications.

You mean it WOULD be nice to see unifications?

Well this WOULD be.

My bad, I didn't realize the other guy won the IBF belt. Hopefully the winner fights Carlos Adames.

[apollo creed]

“Carlos Adames soon I will have two titles inshallah,” said Alimkhanuly on his social media account. “You take your WBC world title. And we will fight for three titles in the spring!” from B.S


Jani has acknowledged that the regular wbc strap may be a good asset to have in the future. GGG's hard route.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Next week!

[daz74]

yes if ever a division needed a unification it’s 160, let’s hope it’s actually a good fight too

[Monzon83]

Does anyone know why Boxrec has Eubank jr rated no 1 at MW?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Does anyone know why Boxrec has Eubank jr rated no 1 at MW?

He beat #2

[Monzon83]

Does anyone know why Boxrec has Eubank jr rated no 1 at MW?

He beat #2

Weird that none of the belt holders are rated above Eubank and Smith, neither of whom have won a belt at 160.

And people wonder why the sport lacks credibility.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Does anyone know why Boxrec has Eubank jr rated no 1 at MW?

He beat #2

Weird that none of the belt holders are rated above Eubank and Smith, neither of whom have won a belt at 160.

And people wonder why the sport lacks credibility.

Cus they not beaten top boxers.

Never take BoxRec rankings seriously though.

It’s points based.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[ldlamb]

Does anyone know why Boxrec has Eubank jr rated no 1 at MW?

He beat #2

Weird that none of the belt holders are rated above Eubank and Smith, neither of whom have won a belt at 160.

And people wonder why the sport lacks credibility.

And I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable boxing fan….especially compared to the average guy…but I legit have no idea who the guy is at #3.

[Evander]

Got to be expecting a Alimkhanuly stoppage somehow here.

[handsofstone]

I've seen more than once people saying this is the worst unification in recent memory, could be true but if Gualtieri is as bad as some expect then at least Alimkhanuly should relieve him of his belt swiftly, that'll do for me, Janibek's reign so far has been dire, typically Top Rank

[SendoTakeshi97]

Vincenzo came out of nowhere for me. I didn't know who he was up until his last fight, but he beat a solid guy in a solid performance for a vacant title and is already trying to unify with the (kind of) top dog of the division.
Good for him.

I hope he gets the W.

[margaret thatcher]

ya mw is weak atm and this is a julian williams-banana rosario unification more than a crawford-spence one, but it's a fight between top 10 guys, very ambitious by the division's standards lately

[Ruthless-RKO]

We may still get a good fight.

[margaret thatcher]

ya it's not a bad fight at all, even if it's weak for uni

[Ruthless-RKO]

Date: Saturday October 14, 2023
Location: The Armory - Minneapolis, MN
TV/Stream: ESPN

Start Times
ESPN+: 6 pm ET | 3 pm PT | 11 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
ESPN: 10:30 pm ET | 7:30 pm PT (Main Card)
Sky Sports: 2 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Top Rank Inc.

Main Card

Unified WBO & IBF Middleweight Championship
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri

10 Round Lightweight Bout
Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright

Preliminary Card

6 Round Heavyweight Bout
Richard Torrez Jr vs. Don Haynesworth

6 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Giovanni Marquez vs. Donte Strayhorn

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Duke Ragan vs. Jose Perez

8 Round Heavyweight Bout
Guido Vianello vs. Curtis Harper

8 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Kelvin Davis vs. Narciso Carmona

6 Round Lightweight Bout
Alan Garcia vs. Nelson Hampton