Top Rank and ESPN+ head back to Stockton, CA, where they will host not one but two championship fights. The headline will feature one of the more entertaining fighters at middleweight, Janibek ‘Qazaq Style’ Alimkhanuly (13-0, 8 KOs), going up against Steven ‘Bang Bang’ Butler (32-3-1, 26 KOs). The co-main will be for the WBO bantamweight strap as Jason Moloney (25-2, 19 KOs) takes on Vincent Astrolabio (18-3, 13 KOs) in what looks to be an exciting fight.
‘Qazaq Style’ has had a tough time securing a significant fight at middleweight, as most fighters reside with PBC or DAZN. The 30-year-old Alimkhanuly looks to stay busy on Saturday night while also looking impressive to create a public demand for someone with a name to fight him. While his last fight was a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Denzel Bentley, Saturday must be a statement win for Alimkhanuly.
That time again 🏆
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 8, 2023
Welcome to #JanibekButler fight week! pic.twitter.com/Q5lARPDdOl
His opponent, the 27-year-old Butler, is a nine-year pro and brings the level of experience Alimkhanuly needs to face at this stage of his career. Looking at Butler’s Boxrec, one of his more notable opponents was now retired and former WBA champion Ryota Murata who he lost to by fifth-round TKO in 2019. Butler is coming off of a four-fight win streak that all occurred last year, which gives him all of the momentum coming into Saturday night.
JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY VS. STEVEN BUTLER BETTING ODDS
🪓💣 may 13 pic.twitter.com/wHHuaKRpmW
— Janibek Alimkhanuly (@qazaqstyle) May 5, 2023
Per BetOnline.ag, Janibek Alimkhanuly is the favorite at -3300, and Steven Butler is the underdog at +1200.
JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY VS. STEVEN BUTLER DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, May 13
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 12 a.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
Two title bouts. One night. #JanibekButler x #MoloneyAstrolabio pic.twitter.com/VZmnTMjF3e
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 8, 2023
WHAT CHANNEL/STREAM IS JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY VS. STEVEN BUTLER?
- U.S.: ESPN+
- UK: Sky Sports
JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY VS. STEVEN BUTLER CARD
- Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Steven Butler; For Alimkhanuly's WBO middleweight title
- Jason Moloney vs. Vincent Astrolabio; For the vacant WBO bantamweight title
- Robson Conceicao vs. Nicolas Polanco; super-featherweight
- Javier Martinez vs. Joeshon James; middleweight
- Haven Brady Jr vs. D'Angelo Fuentes; super-featherweight
- Gabriel Flores Jr vs. Derrick Murray; lightweight
- Brian Norman Jr vs. Jesus Campos; welterweight