Denis Shafikov


Denis Fuatovich Shafikov is a Russian professional boxer. He held the European super-lightweight title from 2011 to 2013, and has challenged three times for the IBF lightweight title. In November 2017, Shafikov was ranked within the world's top ten active lightweights by The Ring magazine, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and BoxRec.

Early life and amateur career

Born into a Russian-Bashkir family, Shafikov did not immediately take a liking to boxing when trying out different sports in childhood. He nonetheless began his amateur boxing career at 13 years old, in which he had "about 90 amateur fights and lost only 6 of them." His decision to turn professional was based on wanting to earn money for his family, rather than medals.

Professional career

Shafikov has been trained by Abel Sanchez since 2015. He made his professional debut on 30 November 2003, winning a four-round unanimous decision over Pavel Lyakhov, who also debuted. For the next eleven years, Shafikov would remain undefeated while fighting mainly in Finland, having moved there in 2007. On 29 October 2010, he fought to a majority draw against Brunet Zamora, with the regional WBA Inter-Continental light-welterweight title on the line. A year later, on 23 September 2011, Shafikov won his first major regional championship—the European light-welterweight title—by forcing veteran contender Giuseppe Lauri to retire in his corner. Two successful defences of the title were made in 2012: the first was against Lee McAllister on 25 February, which ended in an eighth-round corner retirement. The second was a rematch with Zamora on 31 May, which Shafikov won via unanimous decision.
On 22 February 2014, Shafikov travelled to Macau to face IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vázquez. In what was described as a "lightweight title fight that completely sucked the air out of venue" due to "clinching, headbutts and lots of other matters that don't quite reflect actual fighting", Vázquez went on to hand Shafikov his first professional loss in a lacklustre unanimous decision. The following year, on 18 December, Shafikov received another opportunity to fight for the vacant IBF lightweight title, this time against Rances Barthelemy, but lost again via unanimous decision. Shafikov returned on 2 July 2016 in emphatic style, beating down and stopping undefeated lightweight prospect Jamel Herring in the tenth and final round. On 30 June 2017, in his third world title challenge, Shafikov lost a competitive unanimous decision against IBF lightweight champion Robert Easter Jr., in a hard-hitting slugfest.

Personal life

Despite his nickname of "Genghis Khan", Shafikov is of Bashkir rather than Mongol ethnicity. The nickname was given to him by his Finnish promoter Pekka Mäki, with Shafikov saying that he wants to "conquer the world as Genghis Khan did." His favourite boxers include Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46Draw40–4–2Gaybatulla GadzhialievMD109 Feb 2019Galaktika Culture Centre, Estosadok, Russia
45Win40–4–1Jhon GeminoUD1021 Jul 2018Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia
44Win39–4–1Hector Ruben Ambriz SuarezUD86 Jun 2018Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US
43Loss38–4–1Rene AlvaradoSD109 Dec 2017Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
42Loss38–3–1Robert Easter Jr.UD1230 Jun 2017Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio, USFor IBF lightweight title
41Win38–2–1Richard Commey127 Dec 2016Tough Fight Gym, Moscow, Russia
40Win37–2–1Jamel HerringTKO10, 0:362 Jul 2016Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania, US
39Loss36–2–1Rances BarthelemyUD1218 Dec 2015Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, USFor vacant IBF lightweight title
38Win36–1–1Roy MukhlisTKO3, 1:1417 Jul 2015Cotai Arena, Macau, SAR
37Win35–1–1Miguel Angel MendozaUD813 Dec 2014Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
36Win34–1–1Rustam NugaevTKO9, 1:1615 Aug 2014Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, US
35Loss33–1–1Miguel VázquezUD1222 Feb 2014Cotai Arena, Macau, SARFor IBF lightweight title
34Win33–0–1Santos BenavidesTKO7, 0:1017 Aug 2013Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, US
33Win32–0–1Alisher Rahimov11, 2:2416 Mar 2013Sports Palace "Znamya", Noginsk, RussiaWon WBC Baltic and vacant WBC–CISBB lightweight titles;
Rahimov disqualified for repeated low blows
32Win31–0–1Albert MensahUD121 Dec 2012Parque Andres Quintana Roo, Cozumel, MexicoWon IBF International and vacant WBC Baltic light-welterweight titles
31Win30–0–1James OnyangoUD818 Sep 2012Varshavka Sky, Moscow, Russia
30Win29–0–1Brunet ZamoraUD1231 May 2012Ufa Arena, Ufa, RussiaRetained European light-welterweight title
29Win28–0–1Lee McAllisterRTD8, 0:0125 Feb 2012AECC, Aberdeen, ScotlandRetained European light-welterweight title
28Win27–0–1Giuseppe LauriRTD8, 3:0023 Sep 2011Ice Hall, Helsinki, FinlandWon vacant European light-welterweight title
27Win26–0–1Nugzar MargvelashviliTKO5, 1:534 Mar 2011Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
26Draw25–0–1Brunet Zamora1229 Oct 2010Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, RussiaFor WBA Inter-Continental light-welterweight title
25Win25–0Peter SemoUD84 Sep 2010Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
24Win24–0Leonardo ResendizRTD6, 3:0022 Jul 2010Restaurant Orizzonte, Jūrmala, Latvia
23Win23–0Bobir NormatovKO1, 1:0530 Jun 2010Club "East-West", Saint Petersburg, Russia
22Win22–0Fernando TrejoUD1224 Oct 2009Urheilutalo, Helsinki, FinlandWon vacant IBO Inter-Continental light-welterweight title
21Win21–0Aliaksei VolchanTKO2, 1:2625 Sep 2009Atmosphere Night Club, Saint Petersburg, Russia
20Win20–0John Cotterill, Jr.TKO1, 2:0030 May 2009Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
19Win19–0Juan Carlos RodriguezUD818 Apr 2009Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
18Win18–0Decho KokietgymTKO2, 1:0014 Feb 2009Pyynikin palloiluhalli, Tampere, Finland
17Win17–0Raul Horacio Balbi6, 0:2828 Nov 2008Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, FinlandUnanimous TD after Balbi was cut from an accidental head clash
16Win16–0Andrzej SarkTKO2, 2:1530 Aug 2008LänsiAuto Areena, Tampere, Finland
15Win15–0Shawn GallegosUD1018 Apr 2008Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
14Win13–1Sergejs SavrinovicsRTD3, 3:001 Feb 2008Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
13Win13–0Alexander SaltykovKO4 20 Dec 2007Favorit Gym, Vyborg, Russia
12Win12–0Nizar BoubakerTKO2, 1:0822 Oct 2007Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
11Win11–0Cristian FriasUD818 May 2007Urheilutalo, Helsinki, Finland
10Win10–0Vitaly OlkhovikTKO2 17 Nov 2006Zimniy Stadion, Saint Petersburg, Russia
9Win9–0Alexander Saltykov7, 3:0021 Jul 2006Vyborg Castle, Vyborg, Russia
8Win8–0Leonti VorontsukUD418 Dec 2005Central Culture Palace, Vyborg, Russia
7Win7–0Andrei Sherel2 11 May 2005Minsk, Belarus
6Win6–0Pavel MelnikovUD811 Feb 2005Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia
5Win5–0Uladzimir Narushevich1 9 Dec 2004Reaktor Club, Minsk, Belarus
4Win4–0Filip BystrikovUD616 Jun 2004State Circus, Minsk, Belarus
3Win3–0Leonti VorontsukUD415 May 2004Parc Kronstadt, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2Win2–0Vadzim AstapukUD425 Feb 2004Reaktor Club, Minsk, Belarus
1Win1–0Pavel Lyakhov430 Nov 2003Vyborg, Russia