Janibek Alimkhanuly suspended: Kazakhstan’s Boxing Federation speaks out

President of the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation Rakhimzhan Yerdenbekov said the suspension of Kazakh boxer Janibek Alimkhanuly is a major lesson for the team.

«However, he will return to the big ring this year even stronger and will win all four world titles,» Yerdenbekov wrote on Instagram.

IBF rules and timeline

According to Yerdenbekov, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has strict regulations. In a letter to the boxer’s team, the organization said Alimkhanuly is suspended until Dec. 2, 2026.

Under IBF rules, champions in any weight class must defend their title within nine months. That means Alimkhanuly would have had to defend his belt by July 4, 2026. However, due to the current circumstances, the IBF Board of Directors decided on March 5, 2026, to declare the title vacant immediately.

Yerdenbekov said Alimkhanuly’s team plans to file an appeal.

Read also: Golovkin’s boxing gloves emerge as evidence in high-profile fraud case in Kazakhstan.

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) earlier suspended the middleweight world champion for one year after he tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium.

However, the Kazakhstani boxer retained his WBO title, according to Brunch Boxing.