Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Denzel Bentley – Results & Post-Fight Report

Janibek Alimkhanuly retained his WBO middleweight world title in Las Vegas at Palms. He won by points and determined Denzel Bentley.

Janibek (13-0 KO8) had won interim title to the world title in May. knocked out the overmatched Danny Dignum in two rounds, and he was upgraded to full champion status following Demetrius Andrade’s decision to move up in weight.

Bentley (17-2-1 KO14), was chosen to be the first voluntary defense of the Kazakh title. He came into this one as a British champion who had taken the vacant Lonsdale Belt with a British team in May. split decision win against Linus UdofiaHe was able to defend in September, stopping Marcus Morrison in just four.

Although it was expected that the champion would win, he was given a difficult night’s work by the Battersea native.

It was a slow start though for the Londoner, as Janibek landed with a left hook that got Bentley’s attention in the opener, and a combination found the mark for the champion in the second. Bentley was again knocked off balance in round three by a big left hook. He struggled to get a foothold with a short righthook just before the bell. Bentley’s wake up call came in the fifth though, and after eating an uppercut, his response was to go on the attack, with an uppercut of his own and a right hand forcing Janibek to retreat.

Accurate shots to head and body won Bentley the sixth, and he also enjoyed a solid seventh and eighth, snapping Janibek’s head back with a right hand. Bentley seemed to get the better of the ninth too, but in the championship rounds, ‘Qazaq Style’ regained his composure, stunning Bentley with a left in the tenth, and his left also did damage in the penultimate frame. Bentley was again beaten by a left hand in the final round. He went for the kill but the challenger held firm and made it to the end.

Janibek won with two scores of 116-112 and a wide 118-110, but it wasn’t an easy win.

On the undercard, Seniesa Estrada (23-0, KO9) made her Top Rank debut, and ‘Superbad’ routinely retained her WBA Minimum Weight world title with a shutout points win against Argentina’s Jazmin Gala Villarino (6-2-2, KO1). Estrada was victorious by three scores, 100-90.

Raymond Muratalla (16-0), KO13, was the lightweight prospect and he halted Miguel Contreras (12-2, KO6) in their sixth round.

Carlos Balderas (11-4, KO12) won the eighth round with just two minutes remaining in his lightweight fight against Esteban Sanchez (18-3), KO8.

Javier Martinez (8-2, KO2) won comfortably against Marco Delgado (7-5-KO5) at super middleweight. Antonio Mireles (6-0 KO6) maintained his 100% record with a victory against Eric Perry (5-1-1.KO5) in the first round. Floyd Diaz (8-1, KO3) won the fourth round against Edgar Joe Cortes (9-7-1 KO1).

In the four rounders at lightweight Charlie Sheehy (5-0 KO4) defeated Markus Bowes (2-1) in the first round, while Emiliano Vargas (2-KO2) won the second round against Julio Martinez (1-1 KO1).