Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov Returns to Make Sampson Boxing Promotional Debut Against Justin Pauldo
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Jan 2025
Saturday, February 8, at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, TX
January 9, 2025 – Former IBF World Super Featherweight Champion Shavkatdzhon “Shere Khan” Rakhimov (17-1-1, 14 KOs) will return to the ring and make his debut fighting under the Sampson Boxing promotional banner when he faces four-time PROBOX TV alumnae Justin “The Million Dollar Man” Pauldo (17-2, 8 KOs) of Houston, via Orlando, FL., in a 10-round lightweight special attraction on Saturday, February 8, at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, and streamed live on PROBOX TV.
Presented by Garry Jonas of Pro Box Promotions, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, and Alvino Valles of Texas Boxers and Brawlers Promotions, the night of world class boxing will also feature WBA #2, WBO #19, and Ring Magazine #9-ranked super bantamweight and hometown hero Ramon “Dinamita” Cardenas (25-1, 14 KOs) of San Antonio taking on undefeated Bryan “Latino” Acosta (20-0, 8 KOs) of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, in the 10-round main event; and power-punching former WBC Latino and WBO Latino Super Middleweight Champion Lester Martinez (18-0, 15 KOs) of Guatemala City, Guatemala, facing also undefeated Joeshon “Shontime” James (9-0-2, 5 KOs) of Sacramento in the 10-round super middleweight co-feature.
Rakhimov, originally of Bokhtar, Tajikistan, and now fighting out of Downey, California, won the IBF Super Featherweight Title with a spirited TKO 9 over Zelfa Barrett at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in November 2022. The 30-year-old southpaw will return to the ring in his first sanctioned appearance since losing his title in his first defense 22 months ago, via a close split decision to hometown challenger Joe Cordina of Cardiff, Wales, at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff.
“I am grateful to be returning to the ring for a new promotional company,” said Rakhimov. “My opponent a good, tough fighter, which deserves respect, but he is no match for me and my drive to return to the world championship.”
In his nine-year pro career, Rakhimov also fought to a majority 12-round draw with overweight then-IBF World Super Featherweight Champion Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz at Fantasy Springs Casino in February 2021 and held the IBF Junior Lightweight Championship from 2022 to 2023 and the IBO Super Featherweight Championship from 2017 to 2019.
“‘Shere Khan’ Rakhimov is back and looking to return to the top of the rankings where he belongs as soon as possible,” said new promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz. “We will put him in tough fights like these, which he needs to make a quick climb back to the top of the division for a world title challenge in the near future.”
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 06 Jun 2025STAR BOXING PRESENTS SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE-MONDAY
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Undefeated Super Bantamweight Chavez Barrientes Returns June 7th Against Sharone Carter on Most Valuable Prospects 13 Card
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 06 Jun 2025“HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Returns Home for Inaugural World Title Defense at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
Fri, 06 Jun 2025DAZN PRESENTS NEW NO DAYS OFF EPISODE HIGHLIGHTING REIGNING UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION FRANCHÓN CREWS-DEZURN
Fri, 06 Jun 2025ANTONIO VARGAS PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Antimaro, Jimenez to fight in Japan on June 7
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Thu, 05 Jun 2025“Prospects Collide” Full Card Announced
Thu, 05 Jun 2025Correa Set for High-Stakes Bantamweight Showdown vs. Undefeated Michael Angeletti on ProBox TV
Thu, 05 Jun 2025Kansas Athletic Commission overturns ‘No Contest’ to TKO win for undefeated Super middleweight prospect Marco Romero
Thu, 05 Jun 20252nd JCI Senate Lipa Chess Festival set
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Jun 2025RING III: TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR THRILLING JULY 12 NEW YORK DOUBLE HEADER FEATURING STEVENSON-ZEPEDA AND BERLANGA-SHEERAZ
Thu, 05 Jun 2025