As Janibek Hints at His Next Opponent, Is Carlos Adames Stalling for a Lucrative Terence Crawford Fight?

Janibek Alimkhanuly posted on social media today, stating that his “long-awaited showdown” will be announced “soon.”

Click Here To Watch Live boxing On DAZN tonight!

All Signs Point to Adames

The IBF and WBO middleweight champion Janibek (17-0, 12 KOs) hasn’t revealed who he’s facing, but it’s believed to be Carlos Adames, the WBC belt holder. Although Terence Crawford expressed interest this week in moving down to 160, it’s too early for him to be the one that Alimkhanuly is referring to in his post on X.

It would be interesting for fans if Crawford were to be courageous and choose the unified two-belt champion Janibek as the guy he wants to fight next. But it might be too much to hope for, as Crawford has been calculated during his career in terms of his choices of opponents. The outcome wouldn’t be assured going in for Crawford.

Is Adames Waiting for Crawford?

It’s hard to imagine Adames agreeing to fight Janibek now, as the timing isn’t ideal. If Adames waits a few months, there’s a possibility that Crawford may choose to face him next in his pursuit of a sixth division world title.

Dear boxing fans, very soon you’ll hear the news you’ve all been waiting for and it’s going to be the long-anticipated showdown in the middleweight division! pic.twitter.com/6fA6bWnLwF

— Janibek Alimkhanuly (@qazaqstyle) September 19, 2025

The More Sensible Fight for Bud

The two fighters sparred many years ago, and Crawford is rumored to have gotten the better of the action. Of the three champions at 160, Adames, 31, would make the most sense for the Omaha, Nebraska, native Terence.

Choosing the southpaw Janibek would be a risky move for Crawford because he’s a big puncher, and his switch-hitting ability wouldn’t be an advantage against him. Janibek is a lefty, so Bud isn’t going o throw him off by fighting in the southpaw stance or switching to right the way he’s confused other fighters in the past.

Janibek’s History of Callouts

The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Janibek has been calling out Adames since October 2023, nearly two years, trying to get him to accept a fight against him, but with no luck. Interestingly, it was Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) who initially expressed interest in fighting Alimkhnuly in 2023. But when Janibek made it clear he wanted the fight, Adames never followed through.

Janibek is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Anauel Ngamissengue on April 5. That was a clash in which both fighters landed bombs early, but Alimkhanuly’s power soon overwhelmed Ngamissengue.

Janibek stunned him with a left hand and then followed with two additional lefts that put Ngamissengue on the canvas. The referee then stepped in and halted the contest due to the condition of the hurt fighter.