Jermall Charlo To Target Janibek Alimkhanuly for Unification
Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) is back. The reigning WBC middleweight champion claims he’s on a mission to rule the roost at 160. Number one on his list is a showdown with unified champion Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs).
LOOKING TO UNIFY
On November 25, Charlo returns to the ring to face Jose Benavidez Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada. During an interview on The Last Stand Podcast, Charlo revealed that his ultimate goal is to unify at 160 before moving to 168. When asked if there’s a specific fighter he has his eyes on at middleweight, Charlo said the following:
“At 160, I wanna fight Janibek (Alimkhanuly). I might as well take him out, then be undisputed.”
The last time fans saw Charlo in action was in June 2021, when he scored a unanimous decision against Juan Macias Montiel. Charlo took time off to recover from some injuries and to deal with his mental health. After overcoming what he described as a dark moment, Hit Man claimed he was hungry to fight again.
Alimkhanuly is coming off a sixth-round stoppage over Vincenzo Gaultieri to become the unified middleweight champion on October 14. Qazaq Style has not been shy about his thirst to become the king of 160. He’s more than willing to fight a unification showdown with Charlo.
LITTLE TIME TO WASTE?
On paper, a battle between the two world champions has the potential to be a terrific fight. They are not known for outstanding foot movement. That means they are there to hit but are susceptible to being hit. It’s arguably the best matchup in the middleweight division.
But it’s a showdown that must occur sooner rather than later. Before his hiatus, there was speculation in the boxing community that Charlo was having issues making 160 pounds. But if he has his weight in check and their respective camps can agree to a deal, Charlo versus Alimkhanuly is arguably the best matchup in the middleweight division and would be one of the better fights of 2024.
