Janibek Alimkhnuly anticipates that, by the month of May in the year 2026, he will have achieved the status of the single, unified titleholder in the middleweight class, and he will subsequently engage in a contest with Terence Crawford in the “autumn” period.
In order for the current IBF and WBO 160-lb titleholder Janibek (sporting a record of 17 victories, zero defeats, and 12 knockouts) to bring his prediction to life, he must first overcome the challenge posed by WBA titleholder Erislandy Lara on the sixth day of December. These two individuals are scheduled to compete in the secondary main event of the Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz versus Lamont Roach fight, presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Prime Video pay-per-view, taking place in San Antonio, Texas.
The Intricacies of Cuban Boxing
The Cuban Lara (holding a record of 31 victories, 3 defeats, and 3 draws, with 19 knockouts) is projected to present a complex challenge for Alimkhnuly, aged 32, to decipher, primarily due to the unique skill set that he brings, something Janibek has yet to encounter professionally. Janibek’s aspiration to claim all four championship titles in the 160-lb division could potentially be thwarted by Erislandy on December 6th.
What are your perspectives on this situation? By the coming May, I foresee myself holding all four championship belts. Should Crawford still possess all four in his respective division by that juncture, we shall engage in a battle between two undisputed champions during the autumn of 2026!
— Janibek Alimkhanuly (@qazaqstyle) October 16, 2025
Adames’ Continued Avoidance
Should Alimkhnuly, the Olympic bronze medalist from the year 2016, emerge victorious against Lara, he would then be required to confront WBC middleweight titleholder Carlos Adames with the goal of securing the final championship title necessary to achieve undisputed status. Discussions among enthusiasts on social media platforms suggest a prevailing belief that Adames will not consent to a fight with Janibek, considering his past reluctance and the persistent challenges issued by Janibek over the preceding two years.
Crawford as a Potential Future Foe
The prospect of a match against Crawford is undoubtedly the foremost objective for Alimkhanuly, who hails from Kazakhstan, as it signifies the potential for substantial financial gains, likely exceeding any earnings he has realized throughout his nine-year professional career.
While it is acknowledged that he may not command the level of compensation recently received by Canelo Alvarez and Crawford for their legacy fight on September 13th, it would nonetheless represent a significant sum. Such an outcome would enable Janibek to potentially diminish Terence’s standing and position himself for a subsequent rematch. Given Crawford’s strong sense of pride, it is unlikely that he would accept a defeat to Janibek without endeavoring to avenge it.
