Alimkhanuly-Butler on May 13 for the WBO title

May 13 in the USA at the Top Rank evening WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (13-0, 8 KOs) will face Stephen Butler (32-3-1, 26 KOs).

Recently, the WBO appointed Liam Smith as a contender for the fight with the world champion from Kazakhstan, but the Briton was obliged to fight the second fight with Chris Eubank Jr. Jaime Mungia, next in the ranking, refused to fight with Alimkhanuly.

Butler, 27, last fought in December. The Canadian has already boxed for the WBA championship belt in the past, but lost ahead of schedule to Ryota Murata.