Janibek Alimkhanuly knockedDanny Dignum down multiple times at a Las Vegasboxing event Saturday.- The middleweight may become a new star in the division as his victory was the KO of the weekend.
LAS VEGAS — A heavy-hitting middleweight called Janibek Alimkhanuly scored the weekend's best knockout, and then challenged two Americans to separate high-stakes boxing matches.
Ahead of Saturday's showdown at Resorts World in Las Vegas, Janibek had only competed in 11 pro fights but showed in his 12th — which had the vacant WBO interim title on the line — that he could be a problem for his 160-pound rivals.
Against the overmatched Danny Dignum, Janibek secured a second-round knockout in which he looked like a potentially dominant force in the division.
Dignum had no hope in the Top Rank-organized middleweight fight.
Janibek put Dignum on the floor as early as the opening round, cracking the Englishman with his hard left hands launched from southpaw position before dropping him with a right hook-left-right flurry.
And with that punching sequence alone, the clear talent levels between the two athletes became apparent.
Dignum got up from that early scare but failed to last further than the second, as Janibek used his opponent's face and body as target practice.
Janibek powered a shot into Dignum's body, landed another power left on top, and, before long, Dignum was down again.
Moments later, a fierce Janibek combination, and then an uppercut, put Dignum on the deck for a third and final time.
"I didn't show my best punches yet," Janibek said on the ESPN broadcast following the official announcement of his win. "This will be coming in the next fights."
When asked who would fight him next, Janibek added: "Maybe [Jermall] Charlo."
Charlo is one of two fighters Janibek seems interested in fighting as he then issued a challenge to all of the champions in the division, seemingly including regular WBO belt holder Demetrius Andrade.
He said: "I am in a ring right now, and I want to tell every champion in this weight class, I am waiting for you. I am asking every champion to come and fight me."
Watch it all right here:
Buddy McGirt, boxing coach, said that Janibek "gets better" with every fight.
Top Rank founder and CEO Bob Arum added: "Janibek is the next middleweight superstar. There is no doubt that he is the future of the division."
Janibek landed 34 of his 94 shots attempted for a 36% punching accuracy compared to Dignum's six from 45 for 13.3%.
"What a sensational performance from a great young man and fighter," Arum finished.
With victory, Janibek advanced his undefeated pro boxing record to 12 wins (eight knockouts).