Callum Johnson to Face Former World Champion on Janibek Alimkhanuly’s Undercard

Middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) has proven himself as a dominant force in the division, easily dispatching his challengers. As he prepares for potential unification bouts later this year, Alimkhanuly will first defend his WBO and IBF titles in a homecoming event in Kazakhstan against France’s Anauel Ngamissengue (14-0, 9 KOs).

In a surprising addition to the card, recently unretired British boxer Callum “The One” Johnson (23-1, 15 KOs) will make his return to high-level competition. Johnson, who previously held the Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight titles, is known for his punching power and his spirited performance against Artur Beterbiev in a world title challenge.

After a brief retirement due to mental health struggles and self-discipline issues, Johnson has fought three low-profile bouts over the past 18 months. Now, at 39 years old, he’s set for a significant step up in competition.

Johnson has agreed to travel to Kazakhstan to face former WBA cruiserweight world champion Arsen Goulamirian (27-1, 19 KOs), currently ranked #2 by the WBA. Their 10-round bout is expected to be the highlight of the undercard for Alimkhanuly’s title defense on April 5 in Astana.

The winner of the Johnson-Goulamirian fight will claim the WBA International cruiserweight title. An official announcement of this intriguing matchup is anticipated soon, adding excitement to what promises to be a memorable night of boxing in Kazakhstan.