INDIO, CALIF. - Former champion Joseph Diaz (31-1-1, 15 KOs) and Shavkat Rakhimov (15-0-1, 12 KOs) fought to a twelve round majority draw. (photos by Tom Hogan/Hoganphotos)
The scores were 115-113 for Diaz, 114-114, 114-114.
Because Diaz was 3.6-pounds overweight on Friday, the vacant IBF super featherweight title was only on the line for Rakhimov.
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Diaz was doing some solid work in the first two rounds, boxing and landing quick counters. Rakhimov began to get more aggressive and put his punches together in the third - busting up the nose of Diaz.
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Rakhimov was pressing forward in the fourth, coming forward to make it a fight. Diaz was looking for counters and holding his own. In the fifth, Rakhimov was far more active with very quick combinations. More of the same in the sixth round.
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Diaz was applying a lot more pressure in the seventh round, landing some accurate punches on Rakhimov. The eight was a give and take round, with both landing solid shots. Diaz was upping his workrate and applying more pressure. Near the end of the round, Rakhimov landed a big shot that seemed to move Diaz. In the ninth, Rakhimov started well, with Diaz gaining steam with his work as the action played out.
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Diaz continued to pick things up in the tenth, coming forward with a lot of punches and taking the fight to Rakhimov. In the eleventh, Diaz was throwing more and landing more, as Rakhimov had really slowed down and was taking more punches.
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During the twelfth, they were taking their time and making it a tactical fight. Diaz landed the better punches with Rakhimov unable to close strong.
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