While Alimkhanuly entered as a heavy 20-1 favorite, the "boogeyman" of the division was pushed to his limits by the resilient British challenger. The Story of the Fight The match unfolded in three distinct phases:
Alimkhanuly established control early, using his "Qazaq Style" to pepper Bentley with sharp straight lefts. At this stage, it appeared the champion was on track for the easy blowout many expected. Boks: Alimkhanuly vs Bentley
Alimkhanuly regained control in the final rounds. In a dramatic 12th round, he wobbled Bentley’s legs multiple times with straight left hands. Bentley showed incredible chin and heart to stay upright until the final bell. Official Scorecards While Alimkhanuly entered as a heavy 20-1 favorite,
In a bout that was far more competitive than predicted, retained his WBO middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Denzel Bentley on November 12, 2022, in Las Vegas. Alimkhanuly regained control in the final rounds
The judges scored the contest in favor of the champion, though many fans and analysts felt the 118-110 card was too wide. Tim Cheatham Dave Moretti 116–112 Steve Weisfeld 118–110 Post-Fight Reactions Janibek Alimkhanuly Vs. Denzel Bentley - Boxing News 24/7