Eduardo Nunez will have to go the traditional route to earn his first title shot.
BoxingScene.com has confirmed that the IBF has ordered a junior lightweight title elimination bout between the Mexican knockout artist and former titleholder Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov. The promoters for both boxers were instructed to enter a maximum 14-day negotiation period to reach terms for a fight.
“Be advised that # 3 rated, Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and # 4 rated Eduardo Nunez are the 2 highest ranked available contenders in the IBF Jr. Lightweight division and have indicated in writing a willingness to participate in the IBF Jr. Lightweight Eliminator for # 1,” IBF Championship Committee chairman Carols Ortiz informed both parties in a letter obtained by Boxing Scene. “In an effort to determine who the mandatory challenger will be, the IBF is ordering the Jr. Lightweight Eliminator for # 1 between Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs Eduardo Nunez.
“The winner will be the mandatory challenger for the Jr. Lightweight Championship title. Negotiations should be concluded by November 13, 2023.”
Rakhimov is promoted by Titov Boxing and managed by Egis Klimas. Nunez is represented in talks by Matchroom Boxing, who also promotes IBF junior lightweight titlist Joe Cordina (16-0, 9KOs).
The order came one day after Nunez (25-1, 25KOs) scored a spectacular second-round knockout of Colombia’s Oscar Escandon this past Saturday in Cancun, Mexico. Looming ahead, Cardiff’s Cordina will defend his title versus Edward Vazquez this Saturday in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Tajikistan’s Rakhimov (17-1-1, 14KOs) has not fought since a split decision defeat to Cordina this past April 22 on the road in Cardiff, Wales. The instant classic ended Rakhimov’s brief title reign less than six months after a ninth-round knockout of England’s Zelfa Barrett to win the vacant IBF title last November 5 in Abu Dhabi.
The winners of Cordina-Vazquez and Rakhimov-Nunez will be ordered to face each other next year.
For now, there remains just enough wiggle room for the Cordina-Vazquez winner to pursue a unification bout versus WBC titleholder O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 12KOs) who rallied to stop Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez (34-2, 31KOs) in the 12th and final round of Saturday’s DAZN headliner on the same show as Nunez’s highlight reel knockout.
Nunez called for fights with Foster, Cordina and—to a lesser extent—WBO titleholder Emanuel Navarrete.
The ordered fight versus Rakhimov changes that course for the 26-year-old Los Mochis native.
Per IBF Rule 9.D cites that the two highest ranked available contenders have the obligation to proceed to a purse bid if so ordered by the President. IBF Rule 9.C states that any decision to abandon talks will result in a rankings demotion and the inability to enter any IBF-sanctioned fight for at least six months.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox