Saturday night at Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas sees Janibek Alimkhanuly make the first defence of his WBO middleweight title, as he takes on Londoner Denzel Bentley in a voluntary assignment.
Top Rank promote, and BT Sport is where Janibek vs Bentley can be seen in the UK, whilst ESPN have the US rights.
Janibek (12-0, 8 KOs) is a former world amateur champion, and turned professional in 2016 in his native Kazakhstan.
The unbeaten Kazakh started to fulfil his potential in June last year, forcing former WBA champion Rob Brant to retire after eight rounds, and backed that up with a dominant eighth round stoppage of another former world champion in Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam.
With WBO champion Demetrius Andrade’s next moves unclear, Janibek was put in with another Brit in Danny Dignum back in May for the interim version of the title.
Dignum was no match, ruined in two rounds by a ruthless ‘Qazaq Style’.
The 29-year-old has now been upgraded to full champion, and has selected Bentley (17-1-1, 14 KOs) as his first defence.
The Battersea man is a two-time British champion, first winning the Lonsdale Belt in a fourth round win over Mark Heffron in a rematch of their 2020 cracker.
The 27-year-old put the belt on the line in an attempt to add the Commonwealth crown, but Felix Cash was too much, and handed him a first defeat in a third round stoppage.
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‘2 Sharp’ has won three straight since, taking the vacant British belt for a second time with a split decision win against Linus Udofia, and he defended in his last outing, a fourth round stoppage of Marcus Morrison in September.
Prediction: Obviously Bentley couldn’t turn down this potentially life-changing opportunity, but it is a very tough test for the Londoner. I think Bentley will be brave, but ultimately outgunned, and Janibek should take the win inside the first half of the contest.
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Estrada defends WBA crown
There is more world title action on the undercard, and Seniesa Estrada (22-0, 9 KOs) should be able to halt her vastly inexperienced challenger, Jazmin Gala Villarino (6-1-2, 1 KO) to defend her WBA minimumweight world title inside schedule.
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Remaining Undercard
At lightweight, Raymond Muratalla (15-0, 12 KOs) should remain unbeaten, and he can stop Miguel Contreras (12-1-1, 6 KOs) before the end of their eight round distance.
Also at lightweight, Carlos Balderas (13-1, 11 KOs) can score an early win in his eight rounder with Esteban Sanchez (18-2, 8 KOs), who was most recently stopped by rising prospect Keyshawn Davis in April.
In six rounders, Javier Martinez (7-0, 2 KOs) may need the cards to win his super middleweight contest against Marco Delgado (7-4, 5 KOs), and at heavyweight, Anthony Mireles (5-0, 5 KOs) can continue his knockout streak against Eric Perry (5-0-1, 5 KOs) in a battle of the bangers.
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Floyd Diaz (7-0, 2 KOs) should outscore Edgar Joe Cortes (9-6-1, 1 KO) in their super bantamweight affair.
In four round action, both at lightweight Charlie Sheehy (4-0, 3 KOs) can take the battle of the unbeatens against Markus Bowes (2-0, 2 KOs) on the cards, and Emiliano Vargas (1-0, 1 KO), son of former world champion, Fernando Vargas can do the same against Julio Martinez (1-0, 1 KO).
