Rakhimov (proper) began sluggish however finally overwhelmed Barrett and compelled his nook to throw within the towel. (Picture by Francois Nel/Getty Photos)
Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov overcame a rocky begin in opposition to sharpshooting counterpuncher Zelfa Barrett and wore down the European champ to a ninth-round stoppage on the Dmitry Bivol-Gilberto Ramirez undercard on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, turning into the primary professional boxer from Tajikistan to win a serious world title.
Rakhimov celebrates with coach Freddie Roach. (Picture by Francois Nel/Getty Photos)
Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3-rated junior light-weight, earned the vacant IBF belt together with his gritty effort and has already signed to face the previous beltholder Joe Cordina (Ring’s No. 4 contender), who was stripped of the title when an harm prevented him from making his obligatory protection in opposition to the 28-year-old Tajikistani strain fighter.
Barrett (28-2, 16 KOs), a gifted 29-year-old boxer from Manchester, England, scored an attractive third-round knockdown (courtesy of a well-timed proper uppercut counter) and beat Rakhimov throughout the early rounds exchanges, however the relentlessness of the Freddie Roach-trained fighter progressively took the power out of his legs.
By Spherical 9, Barrett couldn’t preserve Rakhimov off of him and the towel was thrown into the ring from his nook. The referee waved the competition off at 2:35 of the spherical.
