The fans had a mouthwatering contest in Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich, but no more. The middleweight champion was eyeing the middleweight division’s enforcer role, whereas the challenger finally had his moment as he challenged for the gold for the first time. However, that’s not the case anymore.

The WBO and IBF champion sent the promoters and his fans into a concern wave when he fainted during his weight cut ahead of the weigh-ins. Alimkhanuly, 31, was struggling to make the final pounds for his title defense this Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. But the severity of it ensured that the Kazakh fighter withdrew from the headliner. But what caused all of it?

Dehydration taps out Janibek Alimkhanuly

Top Rank broke the disheartening news on Friday, as they canceled Alimkhanuly vs. Mikhailovich. Egis Klimas, the champion’s manager, notified the fans that Alimkhanuly had to be rushed to Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center on Thursday evening after he fainted, as he tried to make the scales for his first title defense.

“He was put on an IV. While the scans showed no kidney damage, he was severely dehydrated and in no condition to fight,” Klimas added. After losing the main event, Top Rank moved swiftly and pushed Raymond Muratalla vs. Tevin Farmer as the main event. But the fans took to the comments section and adopted an indifferent attitude toward Alimkhanuly’s weight struggles while venting their frustration about the cancellation of the fight.

Fans make a case for ‘Qazaq Style’ to move up

One fan wondered the reason behind a fighter’s efforts until the last minute to cut weight. The logistics and business side of boxing ensure any failure to make a weight cut dents the event financially, not to mention the slander a boxer receives for their conduct, which might be seen as unprofessional. They asked, “Is there a reason guys wait till the last minute to cut the weight”

A user, seeing the condition of Alimkhanuly after a failed weight cut, advised him to move up a division, i.e., super middleweight. They wrote, “Time to move up.”

Someone was blunt in their opinion of Alimkhanuly, as they labeled the 15-0 record holder as a “weight bully.” Despite being the same height as Mikhailovich, Alimkhanuly has a wider frame and carries a weight advantage whenever he steps into the boxing ring. The added weight adds more power to his heavy punches. They declared, “No sympathy for a weight bully. Move up if you’re really like that.”

While wishing Alimkhanuly the best for recovery, a comment contested that the WBO and IBF belts should be vacated. Urging to not block the division or put it on hold, the comment read, “First, wish him all the best. But… the belt should now go vacant or the opponent should have a chance to face somebody else for it.”

Lastly, a fan believed that Alimkhanuly didn’t want to move up because of the bigger fighters at 168. In addition, they made a parallel with his compatriot, Gennady Golovkin, who also fought at 160. They announced, “Killing himself to stay at 160 because hes scared of the bigger lads. Just like his mate GGG.”

While Alimkhanuly undergoes recovery, it won’t be long before the fans see him inside the squared circle. But it will be interesting to see whether he makes a switch now and moves up to a division that is already clogged with challengers trying to get Canelo Alvarez‘s attention.

What do you make of this latest update about Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich? Do you think the champion should vacate the title? Let us know in the comments below.