Janibek Alimkhanuly is just as serious in his quest to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez as he is in his desire to become undisputed middleweight champion.

The unbeaten and unified IBF and WBO titlist hopes to have his cake and eat it, too—hence the urge to call out the sport’s biggest star almost immediately after his own latest win.

“Canelo! Where are you,” Alimkhanuly demanded to know, moments after his knockout win over unbeaten Anuael Ngamissengue. “I am the king of middleweight! You think you are a king too!

“Let's show the world a fight between two kings!”

Alimkhanuly, 17-0 (12 KOs) reminded the world of his place at 160lbs. in a one-sided, fifth-round knockout of Ngamissengue (14-1, 9 KOs this past Saturday at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan. The fight was the first on home soil for Alimkhanuly since 2017 and the first time ever that a unified titlist from Kazakhstan defended his titles in country.

With that piece of history out of the way, the 32-year-old southpaw is prepared to verbally terrorize everyone in or near the middleweight division.

Alimkhanuly remains determined to land unification bouts with WBC titlist Carlos Adames, 24-1-1 (18 KOs) and WBA beltholder Erislandy Lara, 31-3-3 (19 KOs). Such a series would produce the first undisputed middleweight champion since Jermain Taylor defeated Bernard Hopkins for the first of two times in July 2005.

Of course, there is room on his 5’11½” frame to move up the scale if necessary. Particularly, if were for the chance to challenge Mexico’s Alvarez, 62-2-2 (39 KOs), for the lineal, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring super middleweight championship.

Alvarez is currently focused on reclaiming the IBF belt to become a two-time undisputed champ at the weight. The current claimant is William Scull, 23-0 (9 KOs), whom Alvarez will face on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It is highly doubtful that Alimkhanuly will be in the running to face the winner. That won’t stop him from chasing such an opportunity, similar to his dogged pursuit of his middleweight peers.

“When I just turned pro, I told my team I could fight at any weight,” Alimkhanuly told BoxingScene. “So., if the opportunity comes to fight Canelo at super middleweight, or even David Benavidez—whether at a catchweight or at light heavyweight—I am prepared to take those steps in the future.

“My goal is to fully unify the middleweight division. I am going to stay here until I get all the titles. Of course, I will move up for the right offer but I want to become undisputed champion and don’t want to give the other fighters any excuses to avoid me.”

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.