Only a few hours have passed since the match between IBF and WBO middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and Anauel Ngamissengue, which took place at the Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan. As expected, the victory went to the local hero and current world champion. Alimkhanuly was simply superior to his challenger in every aspect, displaying excellent boxing skills and a confident approach towards his opponent, who was knocked out in the fifth round by a beautiful left hook followed by a second one.
The event attracted a large crowd to the arena, largely due to the presence of the homegrown Alimkhanuly, although the international media coverage did not receive the same level of attention.
Middleweights are going through an extremely difficult time today. There is no trace of fighters from the division in the current Pound-for-Pound rankings. The days of Golovkin, Canelo, Jacobs, and Saunders (not to mention even earlier eras) are long gone. At present, the standout names in the division are the ever-determined Erislandy Lara, the perennial (unfinished) promise Chris Eubank Jr., as well as Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz—relatively unknown to the general public. Not much, really.
Janibek Alimkhanuly is the new name, the rising star and the boogie man in the division, even though at 32 years old he cannot exactly be considered a fighter on the rise. Born in Kazakhstan and now residing in California, like many of his fellow countrymen, he had an outstanding amateur career, winning the gold medal at the World Championships in Almaty and at the Asian Championships in 2013, as well as at the Asian Games in 2014, all in the middleweight category. With a record of 16 wins in 16 fights, 11 of which by knockout (68.75%), the southpaw Kazakh is a fighter with excellent technique, able to vary his action both at close and long range. Extremely adaptable to his opponent’s style, he possesses a sharp jab, which allows him to maintain distance or close the gap when needed. He also has great spatial control, thanks to his high-level footwork, and an excellent sense of timing, making him a highly effective counterpuncher.
The undefeated Ngamissengue, a French fighter of Congolese descent, entered the match with 14 professional bouts under his belt, 9 of which ended by knockout (64.29%). One cannot say that he had faced notable opponents to earn a title shot, making it difficult to assess his full profile. The 29-year-old did not have the extensive amateur background of his opponent, who boasted a much more decorated career. It was known, however, that he has a solid punch, although not particularly precise, and that he generally prefers to come forward, pressuring his opponent and seeking the close range.
In the ring, however, there was no contest. Janibek seemed to play cat and mouse, and when he decided to end the fight, he did so in grand fashion.
From the very first bell, Ngamissengue started pressing forward, attempting to close the distance to the medium-short range, where he felt most comfortable. The current world champion immediately showcased an excellent jab—accurate, fast, and timed to perfection—with which he began to hammer the challenger. Rather than moving around to avoid exchanges, Janibek readily accepted the close range, trading punches without hesitation, showing from the outset that he feared none of the Franco-Congolese’s punches. Towards the end of the round, a double jab followed by a left cross sent Ngamissengue to the canvas, though he got up without any issues.
The rhythm of the match did not change in the following rounds. Alimkhanuly commanded the ring with authority, deciding when to keep his opponent at bay with a clever use of the jab, often followed by a left cross, and when to engage in close exchanges, landing powerful right uppercuts, a shot he landed multiple times and one that appeared to affect Ngamissengue, particularly in the second and third rounds. Towards the end of the third round, a powerful right hook from the Kazakh left a mark.
Despite the punches he absorbed, Ngamissengue tried to have his say, landing several shots to the champion’s face, but without any significant results. Janibek seemed more static than usual, a bit planted, which allowed his opponent to bring the fight to his preferred territory. However, this appeared to be a conscious decision, almost as if he wanted to provide the fans with a bit of drama. Janibek never seemed to be in real trouble; in fact, he appeared unfazed by the shots landing from the challenger. And when he decided to finish the fight, he did so in style.
In the fifth round, after absorbing a few too many punches, Alimkhanuly showcased a textbook counterattack. After a brief flurry from Ngamissengue, the Franco-Congolese overextended and tried to land a right hook to the head. The 32-year-old Kazakh perfectly dodged the punch and countered with a devastating left hook that literally shut off the lights for Ngamissengue, followed by another full-arm left hook that sent him crashing to the canvas. Despite a valiant attempt to get back up, the fighter seemed unable to continue, and the referee ended the contest.
Now, one can only hope that Alimkhanuly faces more challenging opponents and bigger stages. The Kazakh certainly possesses impressive boxing skills and the ambition to try to unify all the belts in a division that desperately needs to find a new star of the highest caliber.