Unbeaten boxing star’s ‘shocking’ travel demands for Sydney title showdown revealed

One of the world’s biggest punchers is set to arrive in Sydney just over 48 hours before fighting for a world title on NRL grand final weekend – a decision Australian promoters No Limit have branded “shocking”.

Fox Sports Australia can reveal IBF middleweight king Janibek Alimkhanuly will arrive in Sydney just two days before facing New Zealand’s Andrei Mikhailovich in this Friday’s hyped title blockbuster at The Star.

While big name international fighters usually arrive into Australia no later than a week out from their events, Janibek and his team are scheduled to arrive in the Harbour City at six o’clock on Wednesday morning.

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He will then complete a press conference that same day before weigh ins are held on Thursday from noon.

The decision represents a huge risk for the undefeated Kazakhstan star, who was initially slated to fight Mikhailovich in July before suffering health complications during his weight cut.

So severe were his issues, the champ was hospitalised and the Las Vegas headliner scrapped at the 11th hour.

Now less than three months on, Janibek (15-0) will only have around 60 hours to make weight while also shaking the considerable jet lag that will have almost certainly accompanied his flight in from Los Angeles.

No Limit CEO George Rose, who promotes Mikhailovich (21-0), suggested the decision could be due to a “lack of respect” for his Auckland fighter, who will start a huge betting outsider despite his unblemished record.

Rose added that he would never recommend a similar preparation for any of the fighters in his own expanding stable – which includes, most notably, Tim Tszyu.

In fact, Tszyu has now been based in the United States for several months as he prepares for his own title showdown against IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, October 20.

Adding further intrigue to the Sydney event, No Limit have also decided to contest for only one of the two titles Janibek currently holds – meaning the champ will have to weigh in for a second time on fight morning.

Under IBF rules, both fighters must hit the scales within 10 pounds (or 4.5kg) of the 160pd (72.6kg) limit on fight day.

Had they also contested for Janibek’s WBO strap, that stipulation would have been waived.

No Limit have been allowed dictate the terms of this showdown however – including the location and belts contested – after beating Top Rank to a purse bid by just $1000.

Commenting recently on the decision to fight for just the IBF strap, respected American boxing journalist Dan Rafeal described the move as “very intelligent”.

“In a unified fight with the IBF, they waive the morning of the fight weight check,” he said.

“If it’s a WBO and IBF, they waive the weight check because the other organisations don’t use the weight check.

“But as an IBF only fight, that means Janibek is gonna have to weigh in on the morning of the fight.

“And that’s gonna put him at a disadvantage for a guy that couldn’t make the weight the last time.

“They want to put as much pressure on as possible.

“So he has to be within 10 pounds of 160 come the morning of the fight.

“So that’s gonna be a lot more added pressure on him in terms of his physical wellbeing.

“That’s the reason they’re doing that … they want to make him weigh in a second time.”

All of which has Rose convinced his undefeated Aucklander can cause a huge boxing boilover in a Friday night headliner that, screened live on Fox Sports, will kickstart a huge weekend for Australian sports fans.

Quizzed on Janibek’s decision to fly in so late for a championship bout against his fighter, Rose told Fox Sports Australia: “I don’t know if it’s over confidence or a lack of respect for Andre.

“But I’ve never had an international fighter request to fly here so late.

“(Laughs) Normally, they’re arguing with us about trying to get Down Under weeks earlier so that they can shake the jet lag and acclimatise.

“So I’m absolutely shocked Janibek is only arriving on Wednesday.

“Especially given the fact that he’s coming off those issue where he didn’t make weight last time.

“You’d think you would be doing everything possible to make sure his weight is right this time around.

“Because I can assure him, Australia’s scales are the same as the ones he missed on in the US.

“They don’t change here.”.

Asked if Janibek’s team had made any specific requests about what would be required after touching down Wednesday morning, Rose continued: “There’s been nothing at this stage that I’m aware of.

“But I’m anticipating that when they touch down and reality hits … yeah, there could be a number of requests that come in rapid fire.

“Because you always hear fighters talking about how hard the flight here is, how much it knocks them around.

“And Janibek will be dealing with all that jet lag while also trying to cut weight.

“That’s not a preparation I’d be advising for any of my fighters.”

While Janibek will start an overwhelming favourite on Friday evening, Rose insisted the fighter who hails from the same promotional stable as both Tim and Nikita Tszyu could cause a huge boxing boilover.

“Andre comes into this as one of the biggest underdogs we’ve ever seen in our world title fights,” the promoter said.

“But that’s so often how fighters from this part of the world make a name for themselves.

“Janibek, he’s one of the world’s most avoided boxers.

“But Andre is running at him head on.

“And for him to win, it would be a massive upset — which I believe he can get done.

“Andre was already extremely well prepared for their first fight and he’s just continued on building since.

“He was ready to cause the upset first time around … and he’s only more prepared now.”