Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs Eduardo Nunez Preview February 16th, 2024
Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov of Tajikistan will be fighting in his homeland for the first time as a pro when he takes on Mexico’s Eduardo Nunez this Friday, February 16th. Unfortunately this 12-round IBF elimination fight isn’t scheduled for broadcast in America and the UK. The fight can be seen live on the IBA Boxing website at about noon ET. Rakhimov last fought April when he dropped a controversial split decision to Joe Cordina in Cordina’s hometown of Cardiff Wales to lose his title and lone fight as a pro. He had won the vacant belt five months earlier by stopping Zelfa Barrett in the ninth round. Nunez last saw action in October when he brutally halted Oscar Escandon in the second round.
Rakhimov vs Nunez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Eduardo Nunez +190
- Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov -240
My Pick
Rakhimov, a southpaw, enters the contest with an impressive record of 17-1-1 with 14 Ko’s. The 29-year-old turned pro in 2015 and has 103 rounds under his belt at the moment. He fights out of Los Angeles, California, stands just over 5-feet-8-inches tall and unfortunately has an unlisted reach. Rakhimov was a three time Tajikistan amateur champion from 2013 to 2015 and boxed at the 2013 AIBA World Championships where he went 2-1 as a light welterweight.
He’s fought mainly in Russia since turning pro but many North American fans may remember seeing him for the first time in his February, 2021 battle with Joseph Diaz in Indio, California, which ended in a 12-round majority draw for the vacant IBF Super Featherweight Title. Rakhimov then won the still-vacant title later the next year with his KO win over Zelfa Barrett in Abu Dhabi. Rakhimov certainly has some power in his punches as 82.4 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage, but he’s gone the distance in two of his past four fights.
He’s also been on the canvas himself a couple of times in his pro career. Rakhimov also won the vacant IBO Super Featherweight Title in 2017 when he beat Emanuel Lopez by unanimous decision and defended it three times against Malcolm Klassen, Robinson Castellanos and Rofhiwa Maemu all by stoppage in the 8th, 2nd and 4th round respectively. He also has wins over Azinga Fuzile and Jimmy Paypa.
The 26-year-old Nunez owns a fine mark of 26-1 with all 26 wins coming by stoppage and has boxed 96 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015 as a teenager. He measures 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 68-inch reach so gives up two inches in height to Rakhimov. Nunez obviously has tremendous power and the only time he has gone the distance was against Hiram Gallardo back in 2018 when he dropped a six-round unanimous decision by scores of 57-56 across the board.
Since that defeat, Nunez has bounced back with 15 straight wins, all by knockout. He hasn’t really faced the best of the division though but he has wins over Oscar Escandon, Jesus Ceyca, Adrian Perez, Osvaldo Maldonado and Rafael Hernandez. He stopped Jose Vega Ochoa in just 84 seconds in 2018 to win the vacant WBC Youth Silver Featherweight Title. Nunez has never fought outside of Mexico and has gone 10 rounds just once when he stopped Willmank Canonico Brito in the last round in September, 2022.
Prediction…
Rakhimov has fine skills and power, is fighting in his homeland and has far more experience against top-level opposition. Meanwhile Nunez is fighting outside of his homeland for the first time and is taking a leap up in class. It’s understandable why Rakhimov is the moderate betting favourite but Nunez is just 26 years old and entering his prime. He’s also scored knockouts in all 26 wins. Rakhimov doesn’t own the greatest chin in the division as he’s been dropped at least five times in his career including once each in his last two fights. This has the potential to be a fight-of-the-year candidate as it could be a 12-round toe-to-toe slugfest or somebody could get caught cold relatively early. This is a very close battle but I just have a feeling that Nunez is going to pull off a bit of a minor upset here and leave town with a win under his belt.
A tossup but Nunez’s power could be the difference.
Play Nunez +190 @ BetOnline.ag
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Eduardo Nunez betting • Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov betting