Who will compete for the vacant IBF Middleweight title after Janibek Alimkhanuly was stripped of the belt?

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has stripped Janibek Alimkhanuly of his middleweight world title after he failed a doping test. The unbeaten Kazakh boxer returned an adverse analytical finding for the performance-enhancing drug Meldonium in a test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

The decision was confirmed after the IBF championships committee reviewed the situation and determined that the title should be vacated immediately under the organization’s rules.The development is a major setback for Alimkhanuly, who had been one of the most dominant fighters in the middleweight division. The 31-year-old had planned a unification bout with Erislandy Lara before the failed test emerged. Although he remains unbeaten in 17 professional fights, the suspension has affected his standing across boxing organizations.

The IBF ruled that the suspension prevents him from fulfilling his mandatory title defence in 2026, forcing the governing body to remove him as champion.

IBF vacates title as suspension blocks mandatory defence

The IBF confirmed that Janibek Alimkhanuly was stripped of the belt because his suspension prevents him from meeting his mandatory defence deadline. According to the governing body, the fighter was required to defend his title on or before July 4, 2026. However, the penalties linked to the anti-doping violation mean he cannot take part in IBF-sanctioned fights for a full year.

IBF championships committee chairman George Martinez explained the reasoning behind the decision after the committee meeting. He said that Alimkhanuly was scheduled to make a mandatory defence of the IBF middleweight championship by July 4, 2026. However, the sanctions under Rule 18 mean he cannot be ranked by the IBF or participate in any IBF-approved fight for one year following the anti-doping suspension.Martinez added that the suspension imposed by the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation (KPBF) began on December 2, 2025.

Because of that, the one-year ineligibility period will run until December 2, 2026. As a result, Alimkhanuly cannot defend his IBF title by the required deadline. Due to this situation, the IBF board members decided that the championship must be vacated immediately.Despite losing the IBF title, he technically still holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight belt. However, that body has also ruled that he cannot compete in WBO fights or eliminators for at least a year.Bentley will now face Endry Saavedra for the interim WBO title on April 4 at the O2 Arena. Meanwhile, the IBF belt is now vacant, and contenders such as Shakiel Thompson, Aaron McKenna, and Etinosa Oliha could soon compete for the title. A final decision on the next championship bout is expected in the coming weeks.