Janibek Alimkhanuly didn’t report an early knockout as most anticipated — together with himself — however he did greater than sufficient towards Denzel Bentley to win a unanimous choice and retain the WBO middleweight title in the principle occasion of the Prime Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card Saturday night time at The Palms in Las Vegas.
JANIBEK IS CLOSING WITH ALL THE FIREPOWER 💥 pic.twitter.com/sqaVo7GGii
— Prime Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 13, 2022
Alimkhanuly, who made his first title protection since being elevated from interim titlist when Demetrius Andrade vacated to maneuver up in weight moderately than face him, gained 116-110 on two scorecards and a surprisingly extensive 118-110 on the third.
Alimkhanuly had been plowing by opponents with ease, together with by one-sided second-round knockout of Bentley’s British countryman Danny Dignum to win the interim 160-pound belt in his final battle in Could. However Bentley proved to be a a lot harder buyer.
“It’s boxing. Something can occur within the ring,” Alimkhanuly stated although supervisor and interpreter Egis Klimas. “He got here ready. I respect my opponent as a result of he was actually ready. He was one hundred pc, however I’m a champion and I fought all 12 rounds as a champion.
“It’s the primary time I went 12 rounds and I’m certain me and the staff shall be watching the battle and seeing what we have now to study and work on.”
Janibek began quick
Alimkhanuly, a southpaw, received off to a powerful begin pushing Bentley again and sweeping the primary 4 rounds on two scorecards and three of the primary 4 on the third card.
He utilized strain and landed sturdy straight left arms, however Bentley stood as much as them after which had a superb fifth spherical that appeared that Alimkhanuly was in for a for much longer battle than he anticipated.
“Within the fifth spherical, my coach (Ray Bull) advised me we weren’t in entrance and to select up the tempo, so I picked up the tempo,” Bentley stated. “I used to be boxing to my nook’s orders.
“The plan was to see what he has within the first couple of rounds, see what I can take, take a few pictures on the gloves, don’t rush into your work, as a result of he’s ready for me to hurry in and counter me. After which decide up the tempo within the center to late rounds, and I believed that’s what I finished.”
As Bentley’s confidence rose after taking stable pictures, he started to additionally come ahead within the second half of the battle.
Bentley (17-2-1, 14 KOs), 27, landed a number of stinging proper arms and his defenses was ok that although he was getting touched by punches, he was in a position to keep away from taking them cleanly.
A physique shot from Alimkhanuly within the tenth spherical did seem to harm him and after the spherical Alimkhanuly’s Corridor of Fame coach, Buddy McGirt, begged him to proceed to push Bentley again going into the eleventh spherical and he did simply that, though Bentley additionally tried to do the identical, leading to thrilling exchanges.
McGirt advised Alimkhanuly after the eleventh that he wanted the ultimate spherical.
“You gotta win this spherical large! You want this spherical,” he stated.
Alimkhanuly (13-0, 8 KOs), 29, a 2016 Olympic quarterfinalist for Kazakhstan, responded and had maybe his greatest spherical of the battle. He shook Bentley with pictures early within the spherical and was throughout him within the first minute. He landed a robust left that backed Bentley up after which with 20 second to go landed a left uppercut.
However as he had finished all through the bout, Bentley shook it off and so they completed the battle swinging at one another within the heart of the ring.
In line with CompuBox statistics, Alimkhanuly landed 187 of 535 punches (35 p.c) — profession highs in each classes — and Bentley landed 159 of 615 (26 p.c). Alimkhanuly outlanded him in 9 rounds, together with touchdown a fight-high 27 pictures within the twelfth spherical.
Bentley’s staff didn’t complain in regards to the choice, however confirmed irritation at choose Steve Weisfeld’s 118-110 scorecard.
“We misplaced the early rounds. We advised him to step it up within the fifth spherical. He finished what we advised him,” Bull stated. “I used to be a bit upset with the choose who had it 118. I feel the opposite judges received it spot on. We ain’t received no grievance about that.”
Bentley stated he didn’t take heed to all of the pre-fight predictions of an early KO win for Alimkhanuly.
“That’s simply individuals’s opinion. I didn’t are available with that mindset,” Bentley stated. “How individuals assume exterior the ring has nothing to do with me.
“I believed I used to be popping out as world champion tonight. So I didn’t shock myself. In actual fact — a bit harsh phrases — however I let myself down. We go to the gymnasium, we get higher and I imagine I is usually a world champion. I confirmed that tonight. I’m simply gonna proceed my quest to attempt to develop into world champion.”
What’s subsequent for Alimkhanuly?
Whereas Alimkhanuly could not have had the type of dominating performances he turned in throughout his earlier three fights — back-to-back eighth-round knockouts of former world titleholders Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam in 2021 and the wipeout of Dignum — McGirt stated he was happy how he fought.
“Hear, he’s world champion, and I nonetheless say he’s one of the best middleweight,” McGirt stated. “I’m taking nothing away from (Bentley) as a result of I advised Janibek earlier than the battle, ‘This man has every thing to achieve and nothing to lose. So, he’s going to placed on the road.’ And he did it. A lot respect to him and his staff.
“It was a superb lesson for us tonight. If you get 5 straight knockouts you assume you’re gonna knock everybody out. He was in search of the one punch early. Then he loosened up and I stated, ‘You simply gotta again this man up. We are able to’t let this man come ahead,’ and he went out and executed, so I’m very pleased with him. He did what he needed to do to retain his title.”
What Alimkhanuly hopes to do is win one other belt. He desires a unification battle even when getting one is very unlikely in the meanwhile. WBC titlist Jermall Charlo has been idle since June 2021 as a result of a again harm and outdoors the ring points and IBF/WBO champion Gennadiy Golovkin, Alimkhanuly’s countryman, has a compulsory protection due in his subsequent battle.
“I’m prepared for any champion, for unifications,” Alimkhanuly stated. “I’m able to battle anyone. Let’s battle.”
