Former super featherweight champion Shavkat Rakhimov had as disastrous a lightweight debut as you can imagine this past Saturday, suffering his second consecutive knockout loss to Justin Pauldo on ProBox TV. Julius Julianis reported the following day that “Shere Khan”, who left the ring on a stretcher, was subsequently hospitalized for a brain bleed.
Thankfully, ProBox’s Garry Jonas tells in-house outlet BoxingScene that Rakhimov (17-2-1, 14 KO) “has been cleared” to return home to California, where he’ll await a three-month evaluation to determine his fighting future.
Though just 30 years old, Rakhimov really should consider retirement regardless of clearance. As a pressure fighter notorious for absorbing early damage before turning the tide down the stretch, he’s racked up a ton of mileage in a very short span; Zelfa Barrett leveled him with an uppercut before suffering a comeback stoppage loss, Joe Cordina put him down with a hard left hook, Eduardo Nunez beat the stuffing out of him, and Pauldo damn near knocked him stiff.
Hoping for continued improvement in Rakhimov’s condition and support from those around him. He’s had a career to be proud of.