Boxing: Kiwi middleweight Andrei Mikhailovich on cusp of world title after rankings boost

Andrei Mikhailovich is close to a world title fight. Photo / Photosport

The stakes have been raised dramatically for Kiwi middleweight contender Andrei Mikhailovich’s next fight on April 27 - with a victory over his undefeated Venezuelan opponent likely to set up an immediate challenge for the IBF world title.

Mikhailovich (19-0, 11 KOs) was the big mover in the IBF rankings released overnight, jumping from 10 to five and into pole position to fight the winner of a bout between Brazilian Esquiva Falcao and Australian Michael Zerafa for the title recently vacated by Genady ‘GGG’ Golovkin.

“This is a stunning development,” Mikhailovich’s promoter Dean Lonergan said.

“I’ve already spoken to IBF representative Ben Keilty and Ben is of the opinion that if Andrei can beat Edisson Saltarin on April 27 at Fight For Life, that should see him progress to the number three spot.

“With the number one and two ranked fighters Falcoa and Zerafa to fight for the vacant world title, Andrei only needs to win one fight to go into the mandatory position. In all reality, as long as Andrei keeps winning, you will see him fight for a world title by the end of this year.”

Mikhailovich said he was pumped when trainer Isaac Peach told him the news this morning.

“Not too long ago I was just an angry little boy and now I am number five in the world,” he said.

“That is pretty cool. I’ve worked hard for it so I’m proud of where I’ve got to. It’s exciting to be so close to my dream - but my main focus is on April 27. I’m going to knock out Edisson Saltarin and then we’ll see what comes next.”

What comes next will almost certainly be a world title showdown against Falcoa or Zerafa, Lonergan said.

“We don’t really care which of those it is. Andrei will beat either of them.”

Mikhailovich’s rise means he has now overtaken heavyweight Joseph Parker (WBC No 7 and WBO No 10) as New Zealand’s second-highest-ranked male boxer behind cruiserweight David Light (WBO No 1).

There was further good news in the rankings for a Peach Boxing stable that already has world title fights locked in for Light and Mea Motu, with classy light heavyweight Jerome Pampellone surging to No 10 with the IBF.

Pampellone fights Australia-based Kiwi Mose Auimatagi on the Fight For Life card on April 27.

“If Jerome wins that he’ll also move into the top five,” Lonergan said.

With Light’s WBO world cruiserweight showdown with Brit Lawrence Okolie headlining the card at the 22,000-seat Manchester Arena on March 25 and Motu set to fight Canada’s Tania Walters for the IBO Super Bantamweight title in the main event of Fight For Life, the coming months would be hectic, trainer Isaac Peach admitted.

“We’ve all worked incredibly hard for this so we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Peach said.

“But, yeah, it’s pretty full-on at the moment, that’s for sure.”

Peach said he was thrilled that things were starting to fall into place for Mikhailovich after several high-profile potential fights fell over last year.

“Andrei has had to be patient - but this shows that good things do come to those that wait,” Peach said.