Terence Crawford Called Out by Boxing’s “Most Avoided Champion” Janibek Alimkhanuly

Terence “Bud” Crawford continues to sit atop boxing’s pound-for-pound throne after his historic victory over Canelo Alvarez, but the Omaha native may already have a new challenger knocking at the door.

Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly—widely regarded as the “most avoided champion” in boxing—has publicly called out Crawford, offering him a shot at his 160-pound IBF and WBO titles.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) stunned the boxing world earlier this year when he jumped two divisions, from 154 to 168 pounds, and dethroned Alvarez to become the first male fighter in the four-belt era to claim undisputed championships in three different weight classes. His next step remains uncertain, with options ranging from retirement to further history-making campaigns.

Alimkhanuly, who has repeatedly sought a showdown with Crawford in the past, took to social media to make his latest pitch.

“If Crawford agreed to fight me, I would gladly face him,” Alimkhanuly tweeted.
 “Our fight would be the kind of match every fan would watch with excitement, not wanting to miss a single second.”

The undefeated Kazakh (15-0, 10 KOs) has long been avoided by top names in the division, earning his “most avoided” label. While he lacks mainstream stardom, his skillset has made champions wary of stepping into the ring.

For Crawford, a drop back down to 160 would be a risk, but it could also set up the chance to pursue an unprecedented fourth undisputed championship. Should he beat Alimkhanuly, he’d only need to unify against WBA champion Erislandy Lara and WBC titleholder Carlos Adames.

Other Names in the Mix

The middleweight champion isn’t Crawford’s only option. Virgil Ortiz Jr. and David Benavidez have both expressed interest in facing him, with Ortiz open to meeting at 160 and Benavidez at super middleweight.

There was also speculation about a possible fight with British star Chris Eubank Jr., especially with trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre handling both fighters. But McIntyre quickly downplayed that scenario:

“Terence next, he can do whatever he wants to do next, it isn’t down to me,” McIntyre said.
 “But I don’t want to see that [fight vs. Eubank Jr.]. That won’t happen.”

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Crawford’s legacy is already cemented, but the hunger to make history still burns. Facing Janibek Alimkhanuly would not only give him a crack at another belt but also silence the whispers that “Bud” may step away at the peak of his powers. Alimkhanuly represents risk—he’s younger, slick, and eager to make his name at Crawford’s expense—but for a fighter who has built his career on defying expectations, this may be the perfect next challenge. Whether Crawford moves down to 160, stays at 168, or takes a different path, one thing is certain: boxing’s hottest property holds all the cards.