Fight Cancellation Announcement
The highly anticipated fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Erislandy Lara, originally slated for Saturday, has been called off following an adverse finding in Alimkhanuly’s drug test. The unified middleweight champion, who holds both the WBO and IBF titles, tested positive for the banned substance meldonium during a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) examination conducted on November 15.
Details of the Bout
Scheduled as part of the co-feature for the Lamont Roach vs. Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz event, the bout aimed to unify three major titles as Alimkhanuly faced the WBA champion Lara. However, the cancellation was announced after reports of the test results emerged.
Alimkhanuly’s Response
In response to the news, Alimkhanuly expressed his shock and commitment to clean sports through social media, stating, “I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest.”
Future Implications
Currently undefeated at 17 wins and 12 knockouts, Alimkhanuly has hinted at requesting a test of his B-sample, as is customary in such cases. Should this B-sample confirm the initial findings, it is expected he could be stripped of his titles. In response to the situation, the WBO has mandated a fight between its top contenders, Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra, potentially elevating it to a title bout. Meanwhile, the IBF’s mandatory challenger is Austin “Ammo” Williams, with Etinosa Oliha trailing as the next highest-ranked contender.
Alimkhanuly’s Championship History
Alimkhanuly claimed the WBO interim title by stopping Danny Dignum in May 2022 and was later promoted to full champion. Since then, he has successfully defended his title five times, including a unification match against former IBF holder Vincenzo Gualtieri. Most recently, he defended his championship in April, defeating Anauel Ngamissengue via TKO.
Lara’s Uncertain Future
On the other side, Lara, who last fought in September 2024 against Danny Garcia, is now left in uncertainty regarding his participation on Saturday. His most recent victory took place on the undercard of the significant Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga event. The status of his upcoming fight remains unclear following Alimkhanuly’s cancellation, leaving fans eagerly awaiting updates on both fighters’ futures in the ring.
