Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Kenichi Ogawa - August 20, 2021 (Postponed)

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Rakhimov-Ogawa Vacant Junior Lightweight Title Fight Ordered By IBF

Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov will remain first in line for a second title shot.

The unbeaten junior lightweight contender was forced to settle for a 12-round draw in Saturday’s title fight versus Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz, who blew weight and was stripped of his IBF 130-pound belt prior to their bout. In successfully making weight for the fight, Rakhimov remains eligible to once again compete for the vacant belt as he has been ordered to next face Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa.

The fight was formally ordered by the IBF on Monday, with the two sides granted 30 days to come to terms before being subject to a purse bid hearing.

The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was the first to reveal the news, via social media.

Rakhimov (15-0-1, 12 KOs) waited more than a year for his mandatory shot versus Diaz (31-1-1, 15 KOs), one which indirectly came at the expense of Ogawa (25-1-1, 18 KOs).

The number-one ranking enjoyed by Rakhimov, a Tajikistani boxer based out of Russia who came through a come-from-behind 8th round knockout of unbeaten Azinga Fuzile in their Sept. 2019 title eliminator. Fuzile was originally scheduled to face Ogawa, whose promoter Teiken Promotions won a purse bid hearing in efforts to stage the bout in May 2019 in Japan. Those plans fell through when Fuzile was unable to secure a travel visa, citing a lack of assistance as grounds to have the bout postponed for another four months.

Ogawa declined to wait that long, instead returning to the ring that July. Rakhimov was the next highest rated contender, accepting the fight and making the road trip to East London, South Africa where he scored the biggest win of his career in his first fight outside of Russia.

His second road trip wasn’t nearly as kind. Rakhimov almost missed out on the title fight after initially testing positive for COVID-19, though being cleared to fight after subsequently producing multiple negative tests.

Rakhimov came in just under the 130-pound divisional limit for the Feb. 13 DAZN headliner, only for Diaz to check in at a beefy 133.6 pounds. The title was declared vacant, with Rakhimov financially compensated to proceed with the fight only to for the night to end with the belt still up for grabs.

Ogawa briefly held this very title, following a highly questionable 12-round split decision win over Tevin Farmer in Dec. 2017. The disputed outcome became a moot point, when Ogawa was stripped of the belt after testing positive for Androstanediol, receiving a one-year suspension for his infraction.

Four fights have since followed, including a 10-round decision win over countryman Kazuhiro Nishitani in his most recent appearance last October in his Tokyo hometown.

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Ogawa served his suspension in 2017..

Came back in 2019, and been unbeaten in four fights.

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Maybe IBF should order Farmer-Diaz as a final eliminator.

[bobcatbox]

Maybe IBF should order Farmer-Diaz as a final eliminator.

Can’t tell if this is sarcasm..

I guess IBF is being pretty fair since Ogawa had to wait, but Farmer should be placed in an eliminator.

Never seen Ogawa fight. Any reason to favor him over the Rakh, whom I thought put on a great performance vs Diaz?

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Maybe IBF should order Farmer-Diaz as a final eliminator.

Can’t tell if this is sarcasm..

I guess IBF is being pretty fair since Ogawa had to wait, but Farmer should be placed in an eliminator.

Never seen Ogawa fight. Any reason to favor him over the Rakh, whom I thought put on a great performance vs Diaz?

Watch highlights if Ogawa-Farmer. Judges gave Ogawa the decision, but Sky pundits were saying robbery. Saying Farmer was fighting like FMJ bla bla. But then Ogawa pissed hot anyway.

Can see why the judges gave it Jap. Not everyone prefers Tev’s style.

[Boxing Prospect]

Maybe IBF should order Farmer-Diaz as a final eliminator.

Can’t tell if this is sarcasm..

I guess IBF is being pretty fair since Ogawa had to wait, but Farmer should be placed in an eliminator.

Never seen Ogawa fight. Any reason to favor him over the Rakh, whom I thought put on a great performance vs Diaz?

Give Ogawa a watch, here's his most recent fights

[margaret thatcher]

Rak would beat Ogawa

[JxhDel.]

Give it to Rakhimov already, he deserved it after the JoJo bout.

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ESPN+ to carry August 20th Shavkat Rakhimov vs Kenichi Ogawa title fight

Those eager for more Friday fights are in luck, as Mike Coppinger reports that ESPN+ will carry the August 20th vacant IBF featherweight title fight between Shavkat Rakhimov and Kenichi Ogawa.

The bout takes place in Dubai, so expect a late morning/early afternoon start time.

Both Rakhimov (15-0-1, 12 KO) and Ogawa (25-1-1, 18 KO) have rather interesting history with the belt at stake. Rakhimov knocked out current mandatory challenger Azinga Fuzile in controversial fashion to earn a crack at then-champion Joseph Diaz Jr., whom he fought to a draw despite “JoJo” missing weight by more than two pounds. Ogawa, meanwhile, enjoyed a brief reign after taking a questionable split decision over Tevin Farmer, only to be stripped when he tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

For the record, Ogawa attributed the failed test to medication for a skin condition.

It’s good to see American viewers getting the chance to watch a well-matched title bout between two capable, entertaining fighters. Definitely a solid appetizer for Manny Pacquiao vs. Errol Spence Jr. the next day.

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Why to Watch: The vacant IBF junior lightweight title will be on the line here. Rakhimov (15-0-1, 12 KO) fought an overweight JoJo Diaz to a draw in February for that belt, and gets an immediate chance to claim it now that Diaz has moved up to 135.

Ogawa (25-1-1, 18 KO) actually won this title back in 2017, winning a very controversial decision over Tevin Farmer when the belt was vacant then, only to hand it back over when he failed a post-fight drug test for PEDs. He’s gone 3-0-1 since, the one semi-blemish a techical draw with Joe Noynay in 2019. This could be a solid action fight in Dubai, and it’s nice to see it picked up by ESPN+.

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Shame these fights are being postponed.

Boxers are just so inactive now..

It may not be entirely their fault. Could be broadcast, management, promotion issues.

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Press Release

D4G Promotions will host professional boxing at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai on Friday August 20th. However, the fight between Shavkat Rakhimov and Kenichi Ogawa for the vacant IBF junior lightweight title had to be postponed, so the show will now focus on the stars of tomorrow from around the Dubai region. ESPN+ and IFL TV will broadcast live, with a new main event featuring Kazakh cruiserweight Ali Baloyev (10-0, 7 KOs) against Cameroon-born Dubai resident Rolly Lambert Fogoum (11-1-1, 10 KOs). The co-feature has Dubai-based featherweight Hasibullah Ahmadi (10-0, 4 KOs) colliding with Rauf Aghayev (31-9, 14 KOs).

Boxingtalk previously reported the card will pit two Indian lightweights aganst each other: Apichet Petchmanee (9-0, 2 KOs) vs. Phumiritdet Chonlathondamrongkun (7-0, 7 KOs). Another proud Dubai resident will compete on the bill too, as Faizan Anwar (7-0, 4 KOs) goes up against Ricky Sismundo (35-15-3, 17 KOs). More Dubai fighters round up the main card, as Bader Samreen (2-0, 2 KOs) takes on Sharobiddin Jurakhonov (2-3-1, 2 KOs) and Sultan Al Nuaimi (3-0, 2 KOs) shares the ring with Mishiko Shubitdze (17-18-3, 8 KOs).

Ahmed Abdulmagied Seddiqi of D4G Promotions said: "We are proud to have a number of extremely talented Dubai-based fighters on our 'Rising Stars' event next week. Unfortunately we lost the world title fight between Shavkat Rakhimov and Kenichi Ogawa, but we have a stacked card full of incredible fighters, who we believe have what it takes to become world champions in the future. It's the latest big event to take place in Dubai, and we are confident that fans will be treated to non-stop action from start to finish."

On the undercard, Jamie King (1-0, 1 KO) fights Taryel Jafarov (7-2, 6 KOs), Ryan Aston (20-5-2, 8 KOs) squares off with Shalva Guchmazovi (3-6-2, 2 KOs), Khurshid Tojibayev (4-0, 2 KOs) faces Achiko Odizadze (22-17-1, 8 KOs), and Fahad Al Bloushi (4-1, 1 KO) meets Medi Miro (0-1).

[margaret thatcher]

why postponed ?

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why postponed ?

No reason given.

Maybe to do with flying out?