The 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist became the first fighter ever from Uzbekistan to become a unified champion, edging Daniel Roman to secure a pair of 122-pound titles in a terrific affair Thursday evening at Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami, Florida.
Roman claimed a 115-113 nod on the scorecard of Rodolfo Aguilar, with Akhmadaliev winning by the same scores on the cards of Carlos Sucre and Nelson Vazquez.
“I can’t begin to describe what I am feeling,” Akhmadaliev said. “To become the first unified champion from my country is so special.”
The fight came on a four-month delay, as Roman was forced to withdraw from their originally scheduled mandatory title fight last September due to tendinitis in his shoulder. A two-month rehabilitation period was followed by the Los Angeles native heading straight to training camp through the holidays and for a tough title defense where his prodigious foe was nearly a 3-1 favorite by the opening bell.
“There’s no regrets,” Roman noted afterward. “He was my mandatory challenger, and I’m a fighter.”
Roman has shown that much through the years, perhaps never more so than his 12-round war with Tj Doheny, in which he claimed a split decision win to become a unified titlist.
It should be noted that Akhmadaliev improves to 8-0 (7KOs) with the win, joining former World heavyweight champion Leon Spinks as the quickest in history to become a unified titlist.
“I’m so happy,” Akhmadaliev told reporters after the fight.
Roman suffers his first loss in more than six years, falling to 27-3-1 (10KOs). The loss ends his title reign which began on the road in September 2017—more than a year before Akhmadaliev turned pro—and closes by the narrowest of margins.
“I think I won the fight, but it was a close fight,” noted Roman, who was the far busier fighter in throwing 721 punches, landing 150 for a 21% clip. “MJ is a hell of a fighter, he throws his punches really well. He’s a complicated fighter.
“Of course, I would love a rematch. I hope MJ gives me a rematch, but I know this rematch will only make me stronger.”
