Eduardo Nunez TKO11 Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov... A 130-pound IBF title eliminator match took place between Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov from Tajikistan and Eduardo Nunez of Mexico over the weekend. Nunez improved to 26-1 with an eleventh-round stoppage win. The bout was part of an IBA show in Rakhimov's home country. Competing for a title shot at IBF super featherweight champion Joe Cordina, Nunez shook Rakhimov in the second round with a strong right hand that sent the home boxer into the ropes. A former 130-pound champion, Rakhimov replied with a hard left uppercut. Rakhimov was the boxer with momentum on his side early, pinning his opponent into the ropes, but Nunez dominated the fifth round, stringing together combination punches, topped off by a left hook to the chin. Rakhimov had to endure the offense for the rest of the minute, just making it to the bell having spent much of that time with his gloves up.

 

The eighth round resembled a scene in a boxing movie, as both men had moments where he would strike the other with unprotected combinations, all without retreat. The roar of the crowd came when Rakhimov had Nunez unable to reply, followed by a deafening silence when the Mexican had the momentum. But Nunez would ruined Rakhimov’s homecoming, starting the eleventh round on the front foot. A clear blow was followed by several shots to the head without response, forcing the referee to end the match by technical knockout. Nunez is expected to face Cordina in May.