Janibek Alimkhanuly’s highly-anticipated homecoming event in Kazakhstan will take place on Saturday, April 5, at the Barys Arena in Astana.
Titled “Battle of the Brave,” the undefeated IBF and WBO World middleweight champion Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) is all set to defend his belts on home soil for the first time in history against unbeaten challenger Anauel Ngamissengue (14-0, 9 KOs).
The historic event delivered by Nomad Promotions in association with Top Rank marks a new dawn in Kazakh boxing, the first of its kind in Kazakhstan ensuring that fighters no longer have to leave home to compete on the biggest stage.
A 31-year-old southpaw, Alimkhanuly proudly shared his joy at being able to showcase his skills at home for the first time since 2017.
“Kazakh Style is finally coming home,” he said. “April 5 will be a memorable night as I defend my WBO and IBF world titles against a top opponent.
“Many fighters turned down this opportunity, so I credit Anauel for accepting the challenge.”
Alimkhanuly had his first two professional bouts at home before leaving for America, where he has fought for the past six years. Qazaq Style then revealed his ambitions to collect all the belts at 160 lbs.
“My goal is to become the undisputed champion, and Anauel is in my way. The fans in Kazakhstan and everyone watching worldwide will see something special.”
Supporting the main event, Nomad Promotions has assembled a stacked undercard featuring Kazakhstan’s rising stars against world-level opposition for their debut event of the “Warrior Season,” which will be a multi-year spectacle with Kazakhstan at its heart.
“The Kazakh King returns home on April 5 for what will be an emotionally charged night in front of his home fans,” Wasserman Boxing’s Kalle Sauerland stated. “But expect another clinical performance from Sultan — victory against a high-level fighter like Fuzile will set him up for a shot at conquering the world.
“The champions at super featherweight won’t be able to avoid Sultan for much longer.”
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Sultan Zaurbek vs. Azinga Fuzile
In the co-main event, Sultan Zaurbek (19-0, 13 KOs) will take on former world title challenger Azinga Fuzile (18-2, 12 KOs) in a pivotal showdown.
Zaurbek, one of Kazakhstan’s brightest talents, is on the verge of a world title opportunity and looks to make a statement in front of his home crowd.
“I’m very excited to be fighting in Kazakhstan again for the first time in four years,” Zaurbek said. “Thank you Nomad Promotions and Wasserman for this opportunity. This is the biggest fight of my career, and I respect Fuzile, but I want to prove I belong at world level.
“April 5 in Astana is the next step on my journey to a world title, and I promise a big performance for all the Kazakh people.”
“This is a smash-and-grab opportunity for me,” Fuzile said. “It has come at a great time in my career where there are no distractions — the only focus is becoming a world champion.”
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Batyrzhan Jukembayev vs. Kane Gardner
Also set for action, Batyrzhan Jukembayev (23-1, 17 KOs) will battle Kane Gardner (17-4, 7 KOs) in a high-stakes contest, further bolstering an electrifying undercard.
British boxer “Sugar Kane” Gardner has never been stopped and will be expected to give the 33-year-old Kazakh southpaw a hard fight in front of his home crowd.
Tickets are available now via Nomad-Promotions.com, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 255,000 Tenge.
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