Jaime Munguia v Janibek Alimkhanuly Ordered for WBO Interim Title
Current 160-pound WBO middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (31-0, 19KOs) is soon to migrate to 168. In accordance, the WBO has ordered #1 ranked contender Jaime Munguia (39-0, 31KOs) and #2 ranked contender Janibek Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7KOs) to face off for the WBO Interim middleweight title. Both parties have ten days to negotiate a deal.
Originally, Andrade v Alimkhanuly was ordered by the WBO. However, Andrade electing to vacate his WBO title to move up to super middleweight has altered the state of play. This presents the long-reigning number one ranked contender, Munguia, an opportunity to potentially claim a WBO world title in his second weight class. From May 2018 to September 2019, he held the junior middleweight title.
Ever since his arrival in the 160-pound division, Munguia has fought less than stellar competition. As champion, Andrade called on Munguia to exercise his mandatory status. Even so, Munguia’s handlers elected to continue building up the young Mexican fighter. Now, it seems that Munguia is ready, as he stated in his post-fight interview after his three-round destruction of Dimitris Ballard on February 19.
This is a fantastic matchup between two exciting young fighters. Munguia brings pressure and power, while Alimkhanuly brings power, skills, and readiness with only eleven pro fights. Let’s hope a deal is reached and this fight happens.
3Kings Boxing will continue to monitor the story and provide updates as they become available.
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By: Jerrell Fletcher
