Today, current IBF/WBO Middleweight Champion Ganiev Alimkhanuly of Kazakhstan (15-0, 10 KOs) and New Zealand boxer Andrei Mikhaylovich (21-0, 13 KOs) held their final pre-fight press conference at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
On July 14th, Beijing time, at noon, the two will engage in a scheduled 12-round middleweight title bout, with Ganiev defending his IBF/WBO 160-pound world championship belt.
Ganiev said, “My purpose in boxing is to win all four belts. I don’t care if I’m defending one or two belts. I want to win all four belts and defend them all at once. I also want to criticize Erislandy Lara and Carlos Adams, who are both reigning champions at 160 pounds but refuse to fight unification bouts. I believe that true champions want to face other champions. However, I’m confident they will fight me in the future.”
Mikhaylovich said, “Everyone tells me this is a big fight. They ask me how I handle the pressure of fighting for the IBF/WBO world title in Las Vegas. Actually, challenging Ganiev is like going to heaven for me; boxing itself is what I love.”
Following the retirement of Gennady Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs), Ganiev has become a favorite among many fans as the new star at 160 pounds. Although he does not yet command high purses, he has been steadily progressing. If Ganiev can unify the 160-pound division in the near future, he could be considered Golovkin’s successor.