Janibek Alimkhanuly next fight: Jacob Bank for vacant WBO title in Denmark

Janibek Alimkhanuly’s next fight will be against Jacob Bank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title on Saturday 23 January 2027, with the Kazakh boxer beginning his preparations in New York.

The unbeaten former unified middleweight champion will face Bank at The Forum in Horsens, Denmark. The WBO’s official schedule lists DAZN as the broadcaster.

Janibek Alimkhanuly next fight: date, venue and TV

Detail	Information
Fight	Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Jacob Bank
Date	Saturday 23 January 2027
Venue	The Forum, Horsens, Denmark
Title	Vacant WBO super-middleweight championship
Broadcaster	DAZN, according to the WBO
UK start time	Not yet confirmed in the sources checked

The WBO’s official listing confirms that the vacant championship at 168 pounds will be contested. Neither boxer enters as the defending super-middleweight champion.

Alimkhanuly begins training in New York

Alimkhanuly has arrived in the United States and chosen a gym after visiting several with his team. They are adjusting to the time difference and finalising his sparring schedule, Qazinform reported on Tuesday.

“We checked out several gyms and picked the one that suits us best!” he wrote on Instagram, according to the agency.

The update did not identify the gym or name his sparring partners. Alimkhanuly also said he was still dealing with jet lag as preparations began.

Why is the WBO super-middleweight title vacant?

Hamzah Sheeraz relinquished the WBO super-middleweight title on 18 September, two days after Queensberry won the purse bid to stage his mandatory defence against Alimkhanuly, The Ring reported.

The WBO subsequently ordered Alimkhanuly and Bank to negotiate a fight for the vacant championship.

Alimkhanuly brings a professional record of 17 wins from 17 fights, including 12 knockouts. He previously held the WBO and IBF middleweight titles and is seeking a world championship in a second division.

Bank is also unbeaten, with 20 wins and 11 knockouts. The Dane will have home advantage for his first major world-title opportunity.

Alimkhanuly has not fought since stopping Anauel Ngamissengue in the fifth round in April 2025.

What happened during Alimkhanuly’s suspension?

Alimkhanuly was removed from his scheduled unification fight against Erislandy Lara on 6 December 2025 after an adverse analytical finding for meldonium.

The WBO’s disciplinary ruling records that the sample was collected on 15 November 2025. His B sample subsequently confirmed the finding.

On 19 February 2026, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension, backdated to 2 December 2025. Its decision also set testing and anti-doping education requirements as conditions of reinstatement.

The IBF stripped Alimkhanuly of its middleweight title in March. The WBO initially allowed him to retain its championship.

The WBO subsequently terminated his suspension effective 10 July 2026 after he met its conditions, The Ring reported, quoting the organisation’s ruling.

Alimkhanuly also relinquished the WBO middleweight belt to move up a division. Denzel Bentley was elevated from interim to full champion in July, according to the WBO’s championship record.

The January contest is now listed by the WBO as a vacant-title fight in the division above.

How to watch Alimkhanuly vs Bank

DAZN is listed as the broadcaster on the WBO’s schedule. A UK coverage start time and main-event ring-walk time have not been confirmed in the sources checked.

For other upcoming cards and viewing information, see our boxing coverage.

Janibek Alimkhanuly next fight: your questions answered

When is Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Jacob Bank?

The fight takes place on Saturday 23 January 2027 at The Forum in Horsens, Denmark.

Is Alimkhanuly vs Bank a world-title fight?

Yes. They will contest the vacant WBO super-middleweight title at 168 pounds. Alimkhanuly previously held world titles at middleweight.

How can I watch Alimkhanuly vs Bank?

The WBO lists DAZN as the broadcaster. UK coverage and ring-walk times have not yet been confirmed in the sources checked.