Akhmadaliyev was set to meet WBA mandatory and #1 ranked Rios, but the Californian’s misfortune opened the door for a first World title shot for Velazquez (29-6-2 19 KOs). The Chilean’s career was on the rise since inauspicious beginnings, and the 32-year-old entered the bout unbeaten in his last 21 fights.

The Uzbek boxer won the bout with a unanimous decision of the judges.

It should be reminded that Akhmadaliyev ripped belts from former ruler Daniel Roman in Miami in January 2020 and defended them with a trademark performance of equal style and spite on home turf in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in April with a fifth-round stoppage over Ryosuke Iwasa.