Tyler Denny 'Baffled' That Janibek Alimkhanuly Still Holds WBO Middleweight Belt

I'll be straight with you — this one's got me scratching my head as well. Tyler Denny has come out and publicly questioned why Janibek Alimkhanuly is still recognised as WBO middleweight champion after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. And fair play to the lad for saying what everyone's thinking.

Let's call it what it is: if you test positive for a banned substance, you shouldn't be holding a world title. It's that simple. The fact that the WBO has apparently allowed Janibek to retain his belt despite a positive test is, frankly, embarrassing for the sport. Boxing already gets enough stick for its governance issues without this sort of thing.

Denny's frustration is completely understandable. Here's a British middleweight who's been grafting his way through the ranks, doing things the right way, and he's watching a champion who's tested positive just carry on as if nothing happened. How is that fair? How does that work?

The middleweight division is absolutely stacked at the moment. You've got Austin Williams challenging Carlos Adames for the WBC belt, you've got serious contenders queuing up across all four bodies. The last thing the division needs is a cloud hanging over one of its titles because the governing body can't be bothered to enforce its own rules.

Meldonium, for those who don't know, is the same substance that got several athletes banned across multiple sports. It's on the WADA prohibited list. There's no grey area here — it's banned, end of discussion.

What makes this worse is the message it sends to young fighters. You're telling them that you can test positive and still keep your belt? That's not the sport any of us want. Boxing needs to be cleaner, not muddier.

Denny's got every right to be fuming, and I'd expect more fighters to start speaking up about this. The WBO needs to do the right thing here. Strip the belt, let the legitimate contenders fight for it, and move on. Anything less is a stain on the division.

Proper shambles, this. Boxing deserves better.