Bank Rips WBO Over Janibek Ranking Decision

middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">Super middleweight contender Jacob Bank slammed the WBO for reinstating former middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly as the division's No. 2 ranked fighter and mandatory challenger to titlist Hamzah Sheeraz.

The Danish fighter told The Ring that the decision to shorten Alimkhanuly's doping suspension and immediately place him atop the rankings sends the wrong message about clean competition. "That's where this becomes completely wrong, it isn't just about me or Hamzah ... it affects every fighter who worked their way up the rankings fairly," Bank said, per a Ring Magazine story.

Why Bank Says WBO Rewarded Janibek

Bank questioned why the WBO cut short a suspension it imposed and then granted the Kazakh fighter immediate mandatory status. The unbeaten Dane said Alimkhanuly should have been required to prove himself in one or two comeback fights before earning a title shot. Instead, he serves less time than originally handed down and lands the biggest opportunity in the division.

Bank's promoter Kasper Holgersen echoed the frustration, noting this marks the second time the WBO appeared to sidestep Bank's advancement. When Sheeraz fought for the vacant belt, the sanctioning body announced that matchup two days after Bank stopped William Scull in January, reportedly citing urgency despite the Sheeraz fight not happening until late May.

The 25-year-old Bank holds the No. 4 spot in the WBO rankings behind Canelo Alvarez at No. 1, Alimkhanuly at No. 2, and Diego Pacheco at No. 3. He plans to close out his year with one more assignment before pursuing the Sheeraz fight in 2026.

Source: ringmagazine.com