On a quest to hold all the gold at 160 pounds, Janibek Alimkhanuly must first defend the IBF and WBO middleweight titles against Andrei Mikhailovich on Saturday, July 13. The fight in Las Vegas airs on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Janibek (15-0) has won all but five fights via knockout. The 2013 World Championships gold medalist won interim WBO gold in 2022, became a full-time champion after Demetrius Andrade vacated the belt and took out Vincenzo Gualtieri in October to capture the IBF title.
Mikhailovich (21-0) has 13 wins via knockout. The Russian-born fighter based in New Zealand has credited Joesph Parker and others for motivating him. He is fighting three months after knocking out Les Sherrington, needing only one round to take down the Aussie.
A massive underdog, Mikhailovich, with a win, could become the first unified champion living in New Zealand.
WATCH: Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich, exclusively on ESPN+
“I’m extremely excited. This is my life’s work, and this is what I’ve been doing throughout my life,” Mikhailovich said via Te Ao Maori News.
“He’s got this spark, that he just wants to go out there and show everyone what he has,” Parker said about Mikhailovich.
Rising contenders look to prove they can challenge for world titles on the undercard, and young prospects continue to showcase their growing skills.
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Janibek vs. Mikhailovich card.
Raymond Muratalla vs. Tevin Farmer
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Muratalla record: 20-0
- Farmer record: 33-5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-main event will be Raymond Muratalla vs. Tevin Farmer.
Muratalla (20-0) went 3-0 in 2023, winning the NABF lightweight title against former title contender Jeremia Nakathila. Muratalla, 27, has gone from opening cards to being the co-feature here and looks for a dominant win on his way to a potential world title opportunity.
“I’m ready for the lightweight champions, but I can’t take Tevin Farmer lightly. He is a former world champion who wants another shot,” Muratalla said. “I have a great training team with Robert Garcia and all the fighters at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, and they push me to get better every fight. On July 13, you will see the best version of Raymond Muratalla.”
Farmer (33-5-1) had a 23-fight unbeaten streak from 2013 to 2019. Impressing Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, Farmer won the IBF super featherweight title in his second attempt in 2018, holding the belt until losing it against Joseph “JoJo” Diaz. Farmer has gone 3-0 with two knockout wins since then.
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Ruben Villa vs. Sulaiman Segawa
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Villa record: 22-1
- Segawa record: 16-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Ruben Villa faces Sulaiman Segawa.
Villa (22-1) failed to capture the WBO featherweight title against Emanuel Navarrete after being dropped twice and has since won four straight. The two-time U.S. National Golden Gloves Champion made his mark at the Olympic trials, where he took home wins against pound-for-pound stars Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson.
Segawa (16-4-1) is 3-2 in his last five fights. The 33-year-old has six wins via knockout. He lost a three-fight win streak in March and looks to rebound and end Villa’s momentum.
Jonathan Lopez vs. Leonardo Padilla
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Lopez record: 15-0
- Padilla record: 23-5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Jonathan Lopez vs. Leonardo Padilla.
Lopez (15-0) has eleven wins via knockout, with two straight wins via the power punch. The 21-year-old has looked impressive to start his young career and looks to continue his momentum.
Padilla (23-5-1) is 1-0-1 in his last two fights and has not won consecutive contests from 2020 to 2021. “Chispita” has 16 wins via knockout.
Charlie Sheehy vs. Ricardo Quiroz
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Sheehy record: 9-0
- Quiroz record: 13-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Charlie Sheehy faces Ricardo Quiroz.
Sheehy (9-0) competes in his second eight-round contest. The California native has five wins via knockout.
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Quiroz (13-4) is 1-3 in his last four fights and looks to end a two-fight losing streak. A majority of his losses have come against top prospects or rising contenders.
Javier Zamarron vs. Michael Bracamontes
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Zamarron record: 8-0
- Bracamontes record: 9-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Javier Zamarron faces Michael Bracamontes.
A 2021 USA National Championships winner, Zamarron (8-0) has won four fights via knockout. The 23-year-old looks to go 3-0 in 2024.
The 19-year-old Bracamontes (9-1-1) is 2-0-1 after suffering his only loss in February 2023.
Art Barrera Jr. vs. Javier Mayoral
- Division/Weight: Welterweights
- Barrera record: 5-0
- Mayoral record: 6-5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Barrera (5-0) is a two-time Golden Gloves winner. The 18-year-old looks to go 4-0 in 2024 after beginning his career almost a year ago.
Mayoral (6-5-1) is 1-3 in his last four fights, and the last time he won consecutive contests was in 2022.
Israel Mercado vs. Dondrell Haynes
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Mercado record: 10-1-1
- Haynes record: 8-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Mercado (10-1-1) is 1-1-1 in his last three fights. “Bad Ways” has seven wins via knockout.
Haynes (8-1) is on a two-fight win streak and competes for the first time since October. “Sniper” has won all but one fight via knockout.
Albert Gonzalez vs. Conrado S. Martinez
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Gonzalez record: 8-0
- Martinez record: 9-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Albert Gonzalez faces Conrado S. Martinez.
A USA Junior Golden Gloves Champion, Gonzalez (8-0) has won four fights via knockout. The 22-year-old has won two straight via the power punch and looks to go 2-0 in 2024.
WATCH: Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich, exclusively on ESPN+
Martinez (9-1) is on a two-fight win streak, with both wins coming in 2024.
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, July 13
- Time: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT
- Location: Palms Casino Resort — Las Vegas
- How to watch:
- US: ESPN+ ($10.99 for a monthly subscription / annual subscription for $109.99)
- U.K.: Sky Sports
- Canada: TSN+
- Australia: Kayo
