Janibek Alimkhanuly found his path to a 168-pound crown after Hamzah Sheeraz vacated the belt instead of facing him. The Kazakh southpaw will battle Denmark’s Jacob Bank for the vacant WBO super middleweight championship after both camps reached an agreement.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed the deal on X Wednesday. An official date along with a host location will arrive soon, as both camps formally notified the sanctioning organization that terms are locked in without needing a purse bid.
Olivieri stated that the WBO received formal written notification from Team Zhanibek Alimkhanuly plus Team Jacob Bank that both sides settled terms to contest the vacant crown, with further details coming in due course.
Sheeraz’s exit shuffled the deck for Janibek, yet the prize remains intact. Rather than hunting down the British titlist, the former unified middleweight kingpin squares off with a fresh, hungry challenger aiming for his first world championship. The sanctioning body initially ordered talks between top contender Janibek and the third-ranked Bank as soon as the belt opened up.
Bank comes into the fight sporting an unblemished record featuring 20 victories, 11 coming inside the distance. The Danish contender stayed busy with three wins already in 2026, creating genuine momentum heading into the biggest night of his career. Taking on an elite southpaw who ruled the 160-pound division demands everything he has.
Stepping up to super middleweight brings real curiosity for Janibek. Dominating middleweight proved his pedigree, but he must prove his firepower carries into a heavier weight category. Bank brings size, hunger, plus momentum to make life rough for the favorite.
Claiming this vacant belt crowns Janibek as a two-division champion. He kept his title shot alive after Sheeraz walked away, so taking care of Bank seals the mission.
If Janibek collects the WBO belt, he instantly becomes one of the highest-risk, lowest-reward targets in the entire division. He may have to rely on sanctioning body mandatories or take on the top contenders from Europe to get anyone to sign on the dotted line.