The president of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Gustavo Olivieri, has indicated that Kazakh boxer Janibek Alimkhanuly could immediately become a mandatory challenger upon moving up to super middleweight, reports infohub.kz.
In an interview with The Ring, Olivieri noted that Alimkhanuly is currently serving a one-year suspension for anti-doping violations, but upon its completion, he could immediately contend for a title. "Theoretically, Janibek could request mandatory challenger status in a higher weight class based on his record as an undefeated former world champion," the WBO president explained.
According to him, the matter will then be decided by a commission, which will determine whether Alimkhanuly can be named mandatory challenger for the title currently held by Hamza Sheeraz. However, even if such a request is submitted, a quick title fight is unlikely since the boxer's suspension runs through December.
Previously, Gustavo Olivieri told The Ring that Janibek Alimkhanuly vacated his middleweight title and is moving up to super middleweight, a move confirmed by the fighter himself. Alimkhanuly also addressed Saul Alvarez regarding the jump to his weight class. The WBO has made it official: Alimkhanuly has been stripped of his title, and the interim champion in his former weight has been elevated to full world champion status.