Justin Pauldo knockout Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov

The highly anticipated matchup between Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and Justin Pauldo took place on February 8, 2025, at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio. This 10-round bout in the lightweight division was part of a stacked undercard featuring other notable fights. Rakhimov, known for his formidable knockout power with an impressive 82% knockout rate, entered the fight with a record of 17 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. Conversely, Pauldo, with a knockout percentage of approximately 47%, boasted a record of 17 wins and 2 losses.

Despite Rakhimov's significant power advantage, Pauldo's technical skills and reach proved crucial in the fight. While fighting out of his orthodox stance, Pauldo effectively utilized his 3-inch reach advantage, while Rakhimov, a southpaw, struggled to find his rhythm. The bout saw both fighters exchange hard blows, but Pauldo's precision and counterpunching ultimately decided the outcome. In a stunning turn of events, Pauldo dropped and stopped Rakhimov in the eighth round.

Rakhimov's recent form had been mixed, with a loss to Eduardo Nunez in his last outing and a split-decision defeat to Joe Cordina prior to that. Despite these setbacks, Rakhimov remained the favourite. However, Pauldo's victory highlights his growing reputation as a skilled and dangerous lightweight contender. The win boosts Pauldo's career trajectory in the lightweight division, where the depth of talent includes the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis, to name just two.