Kazakh boxer Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has had his suspension lifted early and has been named the mandatory challenger for the WBO super middleweight title, according to infohub.kz.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced on its website that its Championships Committee has made a decision regarding the mandatory challenger for the WBO super middleweight title.
"The Committee determines that Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is the highest-ranked boxer who, in the opinion of the Championships Committee, best meets the applicable criteria for mandatory challenger status. Accordingly, the Committee hereby designates Zhanibek Alimkhanuly as the mandatory challenger for the WBO super middleweight world title and, consequently, as the mandatory challenger for the current WBO super middleweight world champion, Hamzah Sheeraz," the document reads.
The committee also stated that Alimkhanuly's suspension due to failed drug tests was terminated as of July 10, 2026, allowing the Kazakh fighter to be considered for championship participation. It was emphasized that the lifting of the suspension does not overturn the underlying disciplinary case nor imply that no violation occurred.
Recall that ahead of a fight for three titles scheduled for December 6, 2025, Alimkhanuly was embroiled in a doping scandal. The WBO officially confirmed that the Kazakh had tested positive for a banned substance, prompting an investigation. It was later reported that the organization did not strip Alimkhanuly of his belt but suspended him for one year, until December 2026. Additionally, WBO President Gustavo Olivieri had previously told The Ring that Alimkhanuly had vacated his middleweight title and was moving up to super middleweight.