This weekend promises to be quite active in the boxing world, although it lacks a standout headline fight. Nevertheless, several well-known fighters will compete, such as unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and former junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.
Alimkhanuly is heading back to Kazakhstan to defend his IBF and WBO titles against Anauel Ngamissengue. Meanwhile, Tszyu will also be fighting in Australia, taking on Joey Spencer after experiencing two defeats in the United States.
In England, heavyweight action features Joe Joyce going toe-to-toe with Filip Hrgovic, who is stepping in on short notice after Dillian Whyte withdrew from the fight.
Janibek Alimkhanuly (c) vs. Anauel Ngamissengue, IBF and WBO middleweight titles
Location: Barys Arena — Astana, Kazakhstan | Time: 10 a.m. ET | Stream: ESPN+
Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) is a strong favorite at -1100, presenting a good bet for fans. Ngamissengue (14-0, 9 KOs), who remains undefeated, earned this opportunity after defeating Sandro Jajanidze (12-32-2) in his latest fight. His best win to date came from a majority decision against the well-regarded Fiodor Czerkaszyn in 2023. That fight was Ngamissengue’s longest to date, lasting eight rounds, whereas his only previous 10-round match ended in the seventh round.
Currently, the middleweight division is struggling, but Alimkhanuly shines as its standout talent. He claimed the WBO interim title in 2022 by defeating Danny Dignum, later becoming the full champion. Following two title defenses, he stopped Vincenzo Gualtieri to capture the IBF title. Alimkhanuly will fight on home soil in Kazakhstan for the first time since his second professional bout.
Prediction: Alimkhanuly by TKO in the sixth round.
Joe Joyce vs. Filip Hrgovic, Heavyweights
Location: Co-op Live Arena — Manchester, England | Time: 2 p.m. ET | Stream: DAZN
Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs) appeared to be heading towards world title opportunities following impressive knockouts of Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker. However, he suffered two knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang and lost a decision to a past-his-prime Derek Chisora, marking a downturn in his career. Joyce’s only win since then was against Kash Ali.
Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KOs) was nearing a championship shot when he faced Dubois in June 2024 but was stopped by the ringside physician during their IBF interim title fight. Now, Hrgovic is stepping in on short notice to get back on track and find his way back into title contention.
Prediction: Hrgovic by KO in the eighth round.
Tim Tszyu vs. Joey Spencer, Junior Middleweights
Location: Newcastle Entertainment Centre — New South Wales, Australia | Time: 10 p.m. ET | Stream: Prime Video
Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) was once a rising star with a thrilling fighting style and a Hall of Fame lineage as the son of Kostya Tszyu. However, 2024 brought challenges, including a change in opponents leading to a setback against Sebastian Fundora after an accidental injury. Tszyu followed up with a tough fight against IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, where he was knocked down multiple times and lost.
To regain his position in a competitive junior middleweight division, Tszyu’s journey begins against Spencer (19-1, 11 KOs). Spencer’s most significant fight was a loss to Jesus Ramos in March 2023, but he has bounced back since with three consecutive wins, including a close majority decision over Miguel Angel Hernandez.
Prediction: Tszyu by TKO in the fourth round.
