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Raymond Muratalla vs Tevin Farmer: Lightweight fight elevated to main event as Alimkhanuly-Mikhailovich clash is called off

Janibek Alimkhanuly withdraws from WBO/IBF middleweight title defence against Andrei Mikhailovich after being hospitalised with dehydration; lightweight clash between Raymond Muratalla and Tevin Farmer becomes main event - watch live on Sky Sports in early hours of Sunday morning from 2am

July 11, 2024: (L-R) Lightweights Raymond Muratalla and Tevin Farmer on stage during the Top Rank Boxing press conference inside the Grand Ballroom at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on July 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV. Christopher Trim/CSM. (Credit Image: .. Christopher Trim/Cal Sport Media) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
Image: Raymond Muratalla and Tevin Farmer have been elevated to the main event in Las Vegas this weekend

Undefeated lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla takes on former world champion Tevin Farmer in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 10-round lightweight showdown is the new main event for the card at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, after WBO and IBF middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly was forced to withdraw from his title defence against Andrei Mikhailovich due to dehydration.

Alimkhanuly was hospitalised on Thursday evening, with his manager, Egis Klimas, saying: "Janibek was cutting the final pounds last night when he fainted.

Janibek Alimkhanuly (Pic courtesy of Top Rank)
Image: Janibek Alimkhanuly was forced to withdraw from his title defense against Andrei Mikhailovich due to dehydration

"We immediately took him to Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, where he was put on an IV. While the scans showed no kidney damage, he was severely dehydrated and in no condition to fight."

The rest of the undercard remains intact, with Muratalla and Farmer's bout serving as the new main event.

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Raymond Muratalla sent out a dramatic message to his lightweight rivals with a stunning stoppage victory against Diego Torres Nunez

Muratalla is unbeaten in his 20 career fights, winning 16 of those by knockout. His most recent fight saw him beat Xolisani Ndongeni by unanimous decision.

Farmer, who held the IBF super featherweight title from 2018 to 2020, has lost five of his 40 professional bouts, including to Joseph Diaz in 2020 to lose his IBF title.

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Tevin Farmer used devastating body shots to break down James Tennyson to retain his IBF super featherweight title

He has won all three of his fights since, including a first-round knockout win over Alan Castillo in March of this year.

Watch Raymond Muratalla versus Tevin Farmer in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports from 2am in the early hours of Sunday morning.