Raymond Muratalla-Tevin Farmer lightweight battle elevated to the main event – Janibek was hospitalized for dehydration Thursday evening
WBO/IBF middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s title defense against Andrei Mikhailovich at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas after being hospitalized Thursday evening due to dehydration.
“Janibek was cutting the final pounds last night when he fainted,” said Egis Klimas, Janibek’s manager. “We immediately took him to Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, where he was put on an IV. While the scans showed no kidney damage, he was severely dehydrated and in no condition to fight.”
The 10-round lightweight showdown between undefeated contender Raymond Muratalla and former world champion Tevin Farmer has been elevated to the main event.
Muratalla-Farmer and the rest of the undercard will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6:50 p.m. ET/3:50 p.m. PT.
Janibek is probably the least-known two-belt world champion in the sport, and that has everything to do with his opposition being obscure guys. For example, Janibek’s last opponent was a fighter named Vincenzo Gualtieri. The ultra-hardcore boxing fans know who Gualtieri is, but no one else.
Co-feature: Raymond Muratalla vs. Tevin Farmer
In the chief support bout, highly ranked #2 WBC and #2 WBO lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla will face former IBF super featherweight champion Tevin Farmer in a ten-round contest.
Muratalla (20-0, 16 KOs) is poised to get a title shot against one of the champions, but none of them have been eager to take on the hard-hitting contender. He’s going to have to go the mandatory route before he’s given a chance to fight for a world title because he’s too good for the WBC and WBO champions just to give him a free shot.
Farmer (33-5-1, 8 KOs) has won his last three fights against random opposition since being dethroned by Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz in January 2020. After that loss, Farmer was out of the sport for three years before launching his comeback in June 2023 against journeyman Avery Sparrow.
“Janibek is the best middleweight in the world and willing to fight anyone in that division. Mikhailovich is a hungry, undefeated contender, and he is coming from New Zealand to shake up the title picture,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
fight card
- Raymond Muratalla vs. Tevin Farmer; Lightweight
- Ruben Villa vs. Sulaiman Segawa; Featherweight
- Jonthan Lopez vs. Leonardo Padilla; Super featherweight
- Charlie Sheehy vs. Ricardo Quiroz; Super lightweight
- Javier Zamarron vs. Michael Bracamontes; Featherweight
- Art Barrera Jr. vs. Javier Mayoral; Welterweight
- Israel Mercado vs. Dondrell Haynes; Super lightweight
- Albert Gonzalez vs. Conrado S. Martinez; Super featherweight
start time
- Date: Saturday, July 13
- Time: 9 p.m. ET / 2 a.m. UK (Sunday)
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. UK (Sunday)
- U.S.: Live on ESPN+
- UK: Sky Sports
