Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov has won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-lightweight title in his second attempt after he defeated Briton Zelfa Barrett at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday evening.
Rakhimov from Tajikistan stopped Barrett in the ninth round to win the vacant title and took his record to 17 wins with 14 of those being knockouts against a single draw.
The 28-year-old Rakhimov, a former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-lightweight titlist, tried to win the same title in February last year, however he drew with former champion Joseph Diaz, who was overweight.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Barrett from Manchester in England has dropped to 28 wins (16 knockouts) and two losses. This was the first time Barrett lost since losing in a fight against Ronnie Clark from Scotland in February 2018.
