Even though the fight received a date only a month ago, Andrei Mikhailovich had already dreamed about it. It’s his destiny, as he says. The destiny to be a world champion, and the destiny to add belts to his waist. But standing between him and his quest to realize this is the fearsome unified middleweight champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly. Will the New Zealander brush aside the IBF and WBO champion and claim the titles for himself? Or will he falter in the biggest fight of his career?

Fans will witness the answer to these questions when the undefeated middleweight fighters go to war this Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. While Alimkhanuly remains determined to monopolize his rule at 160, Mikhailovich has the same plans for himself. The fans are in for a treat, as exhilarating action and fireworks are on offer. But before the fans fill the arena or tune in to ESPN+ for the event, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Andrei Mikhailovich: Tale of Tape

When you look at Alimkhanuly, the hard-hitting southpaw stands out among the crop of middleweights and has cemented his stronghold at the top in the last couple of years. The 31-year-old has terrorized the division with his brutal power and skills and boasts a record of 15-0 with 10 KOs. That’s not it. The fans have held him in high regard as a well-rounded fighter, and due to his fan-friendly style. His KO ratio of 66.67% reflects the same. In addition, Alimkhanuly has ensured his dimensions of 5’11” (182 cm) and reach of 71.5″ (182 cm) are put to tactical use and overwhelm his opponents.

On paper, the Kazakh fighter is a devastating force of nature. So, how can Mikhailovich deal with him? At 26, the challenger still has years to reach his prime and more weapons to add to his arsenal. But you shouldn’t overlook him; a look at his unblemished record of 21-0 with 13 KOs might paint a better picture for you. What’s more? The Saint Petersburg native has racked up 6 KO wins in his last 7 fights and has ballooned his KO ratio to 61.9%.

Also, nothing separates the two when it comes to their stature, as they share identical heights. An amusing coincidence, isn’t it? However, Mikhailovich has longer levers and a reach of 74.5″ (189 cm), which he employs to unleash punishment. Will these numbers come to his rescue when he stands across from Alimkhanuly?

Prediction: X factor and where will the fight be won?

What actually separates ‘Qazaq Style’ from the rest? It’s his perfect blend of devastating power and precise hitting. Alimkhanuly has swayed the fans and put on a show when he had a demolition job on the former unbeaten IBF champion Vincenzo Gualtieri. The nasty boxer-puncher ticks every box of a superstar. What he has done inside the ring is the epitome of a highly skilled technician, who never allowed his foes to breathe with his speed, angles, and high in-ring IQ.

You add to the mix his X factor (ability) to mold himself into any situation, and you have a fighter who is hard to drop to the canvas. The Zhilandy native can put forward pressure or just hang on his back foot, relying on his counter-punching. He can fight both inside and up close, precisely calculate the distance, and unload heavy blows to the body. There seems to be no escape from Alimkhanuly.

On the other hand, Mikhailovich has been a solid fighter. But the fans could point out his thin resume, where he has never hung with anyone in the top 10. It will be a huge jump for him, and the fans are worried for him, as he was dropped early in his fight with Edisson Saltarin, before he composed himself, launched a counterattack, and finished the Venezuelan with lethal body attacks. He has attributed that knockdown against Saltarin to a trip rather than an aftereffect of a power punch. It seems ‘Renegade’ has a theme of body shots going, as he stopped Les Sherrington in the opening round this April.

Will the Auckland native’s ability to dictate the pace and his longer reach work in his favor? More than those, it will be his stronger left hand that will catch Alimkhanuly off guard. Not only did the orthodox boxer pack equal power in both his punches, but he also honed an ability to switch stances. He has also faced a fair share of southpaws in his last few fights. So you can expect Mikhailovich to be comfortable in the bout. Will it be enough to cause an upset? The fans will find out soon.

What do you make of this coming fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Andrei Mikhailovich? Who do you think will emerge victorious on July 13? Let us know in the comments below.