The referee calls a stop to the IBF world middleweight title fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly (blue trunks) and Andrei Mikhailovich. Photo / Photosport
The referee calls a stop to the IBF world middleweight title fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly (blue trunks) and Andrei Mikhailovich. Photo / Photosport
Andrei Mikhailovich has come up short in his bid to dethrone IBF middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Getting his first shot to clinch a world title, Mikhailovich fell to a ninth-round TKO with the referee quickly waving the bout off after a heavy left hand sent the Russian-born Kiwistumbling into the ropes.
Mikhailovich will likely have complaints about the stoppage, but it might have been a case of the referee having him on a short leash after the damage he had sustained earlier in the fight - highlighted by a second-round onslaught in which Alimkhanuly appeared to have Mikhailovich on the verge of a proper knockout.
It was a lefthand uppercut that stung Mikhailovich and put him on wobbly legs midway through the second round and once Alimkhanuly realised he had Mikhailovich hurt he went on the hunt.
Alimkhanuly was patient in his approach, though; looking to set his power shots up properly. Mikhailovich wore several but managed to survive. He not only survived, but he didn’t hit the canvas until the final second of the round.
That drew the referee’s count, which Mikhailovich beat to end the round.
After a slow start, Mikhailovich did well to scrap his way back into the contest, looking to get in close, land and clinch. It led to some scrappy but entertaining rounds through the middle of the fight, with both men landing good shots and finding patches of success.
Andrei Mikhailovich throws a punch during the IBF Middleweight World Title match between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Andrei Mikhailovich at The Star in Sydney, Friday, October 4, 2024. (AAP Image/Mark Evans/Photosport)
Alimkhanuly’s class showed through his combinations, as he was frequently tagging Mikhailovich with two or more shots in quick succession, while Mikhailovich was most often landing punches in singles, but threw his shots with more venom.
The Kiwi made the fight into a good contest and likely picked up some of the middle rounds, but the tide began to turn in favour of Alimkhanuly again in the eighth round as he ramped up his output.
Ultimately, Alimkhanuly caught Mikhailovich with a left hook on the counter after Mikahilovich missed a left hand of his own. Alimkhanuly then loaded up and clobbered Mikhailovich with another left hook, catching Mikhailovich around his guard and sending him stumbling.
That was the last action of the fight, with the referee having seen enough and handing Mikhailovich the first loss of his professional career.
Earlier in the night, Mea Motu made a statement in a non-title fight as she stopped Australian Shannon O’Connell in the fourth round.
Mea Motu beat Shannon O'Connell by fourth-round stoppage. Photo / Photosport
It was a bout that came up on short notice after Motu’s super bantamweight world title unification fight against Ellie Scotney later this year was called off due to an injury to her opponent, and fought at a catchweight.
It meant IBO super bantamweight champion Motu wouldn’t be putting her belt on the line against former bantamweight world title challenger O’Connell, but the bout was an opportunity for the Kiwi to stay active.
In the end, she was too much for O’Connell, who was cut open early after a clash of heads.
Motu came out firing from the outside, throwing with power and volume to put the pressure on O’Connell. Both women had some success with their shots, but Motu was able to walk through anything she wore from O’Connell and answer in kind.
By the fourth round, O’Connell’s team had seen enough and threw in the towel to protect their fighter from any further damage.
