Professional career
Shavkat Rakhimov made his professional debut in 2015 at the age of 21. He won the WBO Inter-Continental Youth super featherweight title in 2016, and by mid 2017 had amassed a record of 10 wins with all but two by stoppage.
On 20 June 2017, it was announced that Rakhimov would face off against David Saucedo on 9 September in Chelyabinsk, Russia for the vacant IBO world title, [6] last held by Malcolm Klassen who was stripped in May due to inactivity. [7] However, on 18 August, RCC Boxing announced that Saucedo had pulled out of the fight notifying the promoter that he would be unable to make the weight. He was replaced by Emanuel Lopez. [8] On 9 September, Rakhimov defeated Emanuel Lopez by unanimous decision to win the IBO super featherweight title. [9]
On 10 February 2018, Rakhimov defeated former IBF and IBO champion Malcolm Klassen to retain the IBO super featherweight title. He won the bout by technical knockout in the eighth round. [10]
On 19 August, Rakhimov defended his title against Mexican boxer Robinson Castellanos, who had a recent victory over Yuriorkis Gamboa and had previously challenged for the WBA (Super) and interim WBC titles in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Rakhimov won the bout by technical knockout at 1:36 of the second round. [11]
On 23 March 2019, Rakhimov defeated South African boxer Rofhiwa Maemu by knockout in the fourth round. Maemu suffered two knockdowns in the round after which he walked back to his corner signaling an end to the fight. [12]
He faced Joseph Diaz for the IBF super-featherweight title at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California on 13 February 2021. Diaz had been the champion but failed to make the required weight and was therefore stripped of the title. The bout went ahead with Rakhimov still able to become champion with a win, but the fight ended in a majority draw. [13] [14]
Rakhimov got a second chance at the still vacant IBF super-featherweight title when he took on Zelfa Barrett at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on 5 November 2022. He survived being knocked to the canvas in round three to go on and floor his opponent twice in the ninth round with the referee stopping the contest after the second knockdown, handing Rakhimov the win, and the championship, by technical knockout. [15]
He lost the title in his first defense against former champion, Joe Cordina, at Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales on 22 April 2023, losing via split decision. [16] [17]
Next he faced Eduardo Nunez in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 16 February 2024. Rakhimov lost by stoppage in the 11th round. [18]
After almost a year away from the competitive boxing ring, Rakhimov moved up to lightweight and fought Justin Pauldo at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, United States, on 8 February 2025, losing by knockout in the eighth round. [19] [20] He was taken from the ring on a stretcher and it was later revealed he suffered a bleed on the brain which required a two-night stay in hospital. [21] [22]
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