Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The vacant IBF world champion belt in the second featherweight (up to 59 kg) was contested by Shavkatjon Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) from Tajikistan and Zelfa Barrett (28-2, 16 KOs) from Great Britain. The victory went to the favorite.
Underdog from Britain started the fight well. He constantly moved, changed the direction of movement, met the aggressor with uppercuts and side cuts, punched through the body. Sometimes it turned out to fail or intercept.
Left-hander Rakhimov often forgot about the jab and was too obviously preparing signature left hooks. He boxed readably, for which he paid in the 3rd round: he was shocked twice, and 30 seconds before the gong fell after a missed uppercut – he rushed into another unprepared attack. It’s funny that after the fall, Rakhimov began to prove to the referee that there was no blow. Favori often appeals to the third in the ring.
DOWN GOES RAKHIMOV! #RakhimovBarrett #BivolZurdo pic.twitter.com/IvkhxwBor1
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 5, 2022
Round number 5 is the first that the favorite recorded in his piggy bank. Interestingly, the pace and density of combat has slowed down slightly. Maybe we shouldn’t jump on Barrett. Moreover, Rakhimov has a good jab and an advantage in power. The Briton solidly slowed down and is forced to increasingly accept exchanges in the center of the ring. He injured his right leg!
In the 9th round, the injury still did not allow Barrett to take the title. He pulled his leg behind him, was knocked down. After the second fall, the referee stopped the fight. A little earlier, the underdog team threw in the towel, but no one noticed him.
RAKHIMOV FINISHES IT #BivolZurdo pic.twitter.com/XkeUYXBNGU
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 5, 2022
Rakhimov TKO 9.