Joe Cordina vs. Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov | DAZN - 22 April 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Joe Cordina vs Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov lands on Bivol-Ramirez card

The Welsh Wizard’ looks to build on stunning one-punch KO win

Joe Cordina will make the maiden defence of his IBF Super-Featherweight World Title against Mandatory Challenger Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday November 5, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN (excluding South Korea and MENA).

Cordina vs. Rakhimov lands on the undercard of the huge WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title clash between undefeated rivals Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez – Matchroom’s first ever show in the United Arab Emirates.

‘The Welsh Wizard’ (15-0, 9 KOs) captured the famous red and gold belt with a stunning one-punch knockout of Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa on a memorable night at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff earlier this year in June to become the latest Welsh World Champion.

Tajikistan’s Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) challenged for the vacant IBF belt against an overweight Joseph Diaz at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio last year – pushing the American all the way in a majority draw for the title that only he could win.

‘Shere Khan’ was presented with a second opportunity to fight for the IBF 140lbs World Title against Ogawa – but was forced to withdraw from the scheduled bout due to injury. The 27-year-old is currently the highest ranked contender with the IBF.

“I know it’s going to be a tough fight so I’m going to be prepared for 12 hard rounds,” said Cordina. “I know I’m going to have to bite down on my gumshield and dig my toes in. It’s going to get tough in there but I’m going to be prepared for that.

“Nothing has really changed since I won the World Title back in June. My mentality is still the same, I still want to be the best in the world – I want to win more titles. I’ve reached my goal of becoming World Champion but now I’ve set new goals which include becoming a unified and undisputed World Champion.

“It’s great to be a part of the first show in Abu Dhabi. I’ve been a part of some big nights in boxing – the Joshua vs. Klitschko show in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium, Bramall Lane Stadium with Kell Brook against Errol Spence and two Joshua fights at the Principality Stadium. To be a part of another historic show is unbelievable and another one ticked off my list.”

“We have a huge night of World Championship boxing planned for Abu Dhabi on November 5 and Joe Cordina vs. Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov is the first addition to an all-action undercard,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The Welsh Wizard landed the IBF Super-Featherweight World Title with an epic one-punch knockout win in his home city earlier this year but that’s just the start of the journey for Welsh boxing’s latest star. Joe has ambitions of becoming undisputed at 130lbs but first he needs to get past an incredibly tough first defence in the shape of IBF number one Rakhimov who has already challenged for the IBF crown.”

An announcement on tickets will follow in due course.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I initially thought this was gonna be a headline.

They're missing an opportunity here.

This should be a headline in Cardiff..

Cordina could make it his fortress..

Instead they're just selling fights to UAE.

It's good the boxers are making the money, but it's poor form for fans.

Who can afford to travel to UAE for this? It's not the same in terms of atmosphere.

[maverick23]

Shame this is in UAE. Cordina had a nice crowd last time out, a highlight reel KO and should have been back out on a U.K. show in my opinion.

This is a good, well matched fight though and I’d probably have Cordina down as the underdog.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shame this is in UAE. Cordina had a nice crowd last time out, a highlight reel KO and should have been back out on a U.K. show in my opinion.

This is a good, well matched fight though and I’d probably have Cordina down as the underdog.

Yeh, Rakhimov is a deserved mandatory challenger. He gave Diaz a good fight.. I did have Diaz by 1 round, but Diaz is no pushover..

Like you said, this really should be in Wales.

[margaret thatcher]

nice fight!

[daz74]

his last fight was in Cardiff, let the man hit the road and make some cash, and then return home for his next fight

[Ruthless-RKO]

his last fight was in Cardiff, let the man hit the road and make some cash, and then return home for his next fight

It’s not gonna be an easy fight.. he may not return to the UK with the belt.

[stujones]

Cordina should now be marketed as a star in the making. He should be in the UK fighting for a bit.

[Ruthless-RKO]

How many Welsh world champions was there between Cordina and Calzaghe?

[JxhDel.]

Slick Joe picked a heck of a first challenger for his world title, hasn't he? Shavkat is one tough SOB with good cardio and speed, and he brought a fight against JoJo Diaz.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Slick Joe picked a heck of a first challenger for his world title, hasn't he? Shavkat is one tough SOB with good cardio and speed, and he brought a fight against JoJo Diaz.

I think it’s a mandatory.

[JxhDel.]

Slick Joe picked a heck of a first challenger for his world title, hasn't he? Shavkat is one tough SOB with good cardio and speed, and he brought a fight against JoJo Diaz.

I think it’s a mandatory.

Well, that escalated quickly

[garethhop]

How many Welsh world champions was there between Cordina and Calzaghe?

Clev and Lee Selby

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Hand injury to Joe Cordina scraps junior lightweight title fight vs. Shavkat Rakhimov, source says

Joe Cordina's junior lightweight title defense vs. Shavkat Rakhimov, scheduled for Nov. 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is off after Cordina suffered a hand injury that will require surgery, a source told ESPN.

The IBF informed Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs) on Monday that he has been stripped of his title, a source said.

Rakhimov, the organization's No. 1 contender, and Zelfa Barrett, who is ranked No. 2, will be in line to vie for the vacant 130-pound belt.

When the IBF sanctioned a fight between its then-champion, Kenichi Ogawa, and Cordina, it did so under the provision that the winner fight Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) by Sept. 2. Cordina, an Olympian from Wales, won the title in June with a highlight-reel KO in the second round.

In July, the IBF granted Cordina a medical extension to allow the fight against Rakhimov, the mandatory challenger, on Nov. 5. The IBF granted Cordina another medical extension that would expire on Jan. 4, but the 30-year-old won't be available to compete until approximately March, according to an orthopedic hand surgeon consulted by the organization.

Rakhimov, ESPN's No. 2 junior lightweight, was slated to fight Ogawa last year but withdrew because of injury. In his lone title challenge, the Tajikistan-born fighter was held to a draw against Joseph Diaz Jr. in February 2021. Diaz failed to make weight ahead of the fight, so the belt became vacant, setting up Rakhimov, 28, for a mandatory shot.

Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs) isn't rated by ESPN, but the 29-year-old from Manchester has impressed in a recent string of fights against European-level opposition.

Cordina, ESPN's No. 7 junior lightweight, should be in line for a mandatory shot at Rakhimov after he recovers from hand surgery.

A light heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez will headline Matchroom Boxing's Nov. 5 event in Abu Dhabi.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It’s due to the many medical extensions.

Rakhimov-Barrett will be ordered..

Hopefully Cordina can fight he winner..

We know IBF are the strictest in terms of their rules.

Had it been WBA, WBC or WBO, they’d have had Rakhimov vs. Barrett for the Interim belt then unify them.. but They don’t roll like this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[chinarich]

Hand injury to Joe Cordina scraps junior lightweight title fight vs. Shavkat Rakhimov, source says

Joe Cordina's junior lightweight title defense vs. Shavkat Rakhimov, scheduled for Nov. 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is off after Cordina suffered a hand injury that will require surgery, a source told ESPN.

The IBF informed Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs) on Monday that he has been stripped of his title, a source said.

Rakhimov, the organization's No. 1 contender, and Zelfa Barrett, who is ranked No. 2, will be in line to vie for the vacant 130-pound belt.

When the IBF sanctioned a fight between its then-champion, Kenichi Ogawa, and Cordina, it did so under the provision that the winner fight Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) by Sept. 2. Cordina, an Olympian from Wales, won the title in June with a highlight-reel KO in the second round.

In July, the IBF granted Cordina a medical extension to allow the fight against Rakhimov, the mandatory challenger, on Nov. 5. The IBF granted Cordina another medical extension that would expire on Jan. 4, but the 30-year-old won't be available to compete until approximately March, according to an orthopedic hand surgeon consulted by the organization.

Rakhimov, ESPN's No. 2 junior lightweight, was slated to fight Ogawa last year but withdrew because of injury. In his lone title challenge, the Tajikistan-born fighter was held to a draw against Joseph Diaz Jr. in February 2021. Diaz failed to make weight ahead of the fight, so the belt became vacant, setting up Rakhimov, 28, for a mandatory shot.

Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs) isn't rated by ESPN, but the 29-year-old from Manchester has impressed in a recent string of fights against European-level opposition.

Cordina, ESPN's No. 7 junior lightweight, should be in line for a mandatory shot at Rakhimov after he recovers from hand surgery.

A light heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez will headline Matchroom Boxing's Nov. 5 event in Abu Dhabi.

Like everyone I detest the proliferation of interim belts, but surely this is a prime example of where one is justified?

[Ruthless-RKO]

This way he can become a 2-time world champion.

Never been beaten.

Has Hearn spoke about this yet?

Hearn promotes Barrett doesn’t he? Also is Rakhimov wins, he’ll likely sign him to a deal so he can defend the belt on DAZN.

Hearn will be looking at the business side of things.

[Ruthless-RKO]

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Joe Cordina: Welsh boxer looking to reclaim IBF title he never lost

Joe Cordina says he hopes his return to the ring will see him challenge for the world title he never lost.

Cordina, 31, became Wales' 12th world champion boxer when he beat Kenichi Ogawa in Cardiff in June to capture the IBF super-featherweight title.

A broken hand subsequently saw Cordina stripped of the title before a defence, but he is now eyeing a fight with new champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.

"It will 100% be Rakhimov next, I want to fight him," Cordina explained.

"I need my title back and he's got my title, so he is next.

"When? I'm not sure, but I'm going to chuck out a date of roughly the end of March, early April, that would be nice. In Cardiff would be perfect.

"But I'm in no rush in the sense that my hand needs to be 100%. I'm going to need to leave Rakhimov in the same way I left Ogawa, stretched on the canvas.

"The way I feel I've been treated by the IBF, I feel like I need to show them, I have an extra point to prove."

Cordina won the IBF super-featherweight title with a thrilling knockout victory over Ogawa, but he was stripped of his title as he was unable to defend it within a 90-day window after suffering the broken hand.

That led to Tajikistan's Rakhimov - the mandatory challenger - defeating Englishman Zelfa Barrett to win the title in November.

Cordina's right hand required surgery and he says he even contemplated walking away from the sport.

"The first three or four weeks were hard, I was even questioning, depending on how long it was going to take to heal up, was it even worth carrying on. I'm 31 now," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"In the last year I've been blessed in so many ways and been thankful and grateful for everything put in front of me.

"One day I realised I've been thankful and grateful in the good times and I need to be the same in the bad times.

"Whatever hurdles are put in front of me, I've just got to keep going over them. I know where my future is headed and I will get my title back, don't worry about that, along with other titles.

"But it was a difficult time for me, to be sat at home watching everyone else boxing and to be stripped of a title that I had worked so hard for, all my life."

Cordina accepted the IBF's decision, but says he still does not understand it.

"They have said I can fight for it (the IBF world title) but I don't understand the point in stripping me in the first place," he said. "It will be the same scenario regardless."

Cordina has returned to training and is now waiting for the green light to fully use his right hand.

"The hand is healing up lovely, I've got an x-ray now in the next week or two, once I get the green light from the surgeon, it is all systems go and I'll be ready to start punching off it properly," he said.

"I've been touching with it to set up certain shots with my left, but I haven't put any power or strain on the hand. Once I've had the all-clear I will be ready to go."

Cordina, who is getting married on Friday, is part of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable and was scheduled to fight Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi this month in his first title defence.

However, Cordina, who has just returned from following Wales in Qatar at their first World Cup appearance in 64 years, is hoping the bout with Rakhimov will take place a little closer to home than the Middle East.

"Eddie Hearn posted on social media the other day about big news incoming and a Welsh flag emoji, so I'm hoping my next fight is in Wales because I've got a couple of things planned that all the Welsh boxing fans will love," Cordina added.

"Even the football fans there, they will love it too. I have some things planned and if it is in Cardiff it will be a different level.

"I am looking forward to hearing where it is going to be. I want to see the Red Wall there."

[Dioufy]

Amazing shot Cordina landed on the Japanese fighter. Power from no where.

[margaret thatcher]

Joe Cordina: Welsh boxer looking to reclaim IBF title he never lost

Joe Cordina says he hopes his return to the ring will see him challenge for the world title he never lost.

Cordina, 31, became Wales' 12th world champion boxer when he beat Kenichi Ogawa in Cardiff in June to capture the IBF super-featherweight title.

A broken hand subsequently saw Cordina stripped of the title before a defence, but he is now eyeing a fight with new champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.

"It will 100% be Rakhimov next, I want to fight him," Cordina explained.

"I need my title back and he's got my title, so he is next.

"When? I'm not sure, but I'm going to chuck out a date of roughly the end of March, early April, that would be nice. In Cardiff would be perfect.

"But I'm in no rush in the sense that my hand needs to be 100%. I'm going to need to leave Rakhimov in the same way I left Ogawa, stretched on the canvas.

"The way I feel I've been treated by the IBF, I feel like I need to show them, I have an extra point to prove."

Cordina won the IBF super-featherweight title with a thrilling knockout victory over Ogawa, but he was stripped of his title as he was unable to defend it within a 90-day window after suffering the broken hand.

That led to Tajikistan's Rakhimov - the mandatory challenger - defeating Englishman Zelfa Barrett to win the title in November.

Cordina's right hand required surgery and he says he even contemplated walking away from the sport.

"The first three or four weeks were hard, I was even questioning, depending on how long it was going to take to heal up, was it even worth carrying on. I'm 31 now," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"In the last year I've been blessed in so many ways and been thankful and grateful for everything put in front of me.

"One day I realised I've been thankful and grateful in the good times and I need to be the same in the bad times.

"Whatever hurdles are put in front of me, I've just got to keep going over them. I know where my future is headed and I will get my title back, don't worry about that, along with other titles.

"But it was a difficult time for me, to be sat at home watching everyone else boxing and to be stripped of a title that I had worked so hard for, all my life."

Cordina accepted the IBF's decision, but says he still does not understand it.

"They have said I can fight for it (the IBF world title) but I don't understand the point in stripping me in the first place," he said. "It will be the same scenario regardless."

Cordina has returned to training and is now waiting for the green light to fully use his right hand.

"The hand is healing up lovely, I've got an x-ray now in the next week or two, once I get the green light from the surgeon, it is all systems go and I'll be ready to start punching off it properly," he said.

"I've been touching with it to set up certain shots with my left, but I haven't put any power or strain on the hand. Once I've had the all-clear I will be ready to go."

Cordina, who is getting married on Friday, is part of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable and was scheduled to fight Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi this month in his first title defence.

However, Cordina, who has just returned from following Wales in Qatar at their first World Cup appearance in 64 years, is hoping the bout with Rakhimov will take place a little closer to home than the Middle East.

"Eddie Hearn posted on social media the other day about big news incoming and a Welsh flag emoji, so I'm hoping my next fight is in Wales because I've got a couple of things planned that all the Welsh boxing fans will love," Cordina added.

"Even the football fans there, they will love it too. I have some things planned and if it is in Cardiff it will be a different level.

"I am looking forward to hearing where it is going to be. I want to see the Red Wall there."

umm pretty sue he did lose his title, hence why he's not the champ anymore. how he lost it is another matter. ffs writers step up

[margaret thatcher]

didnt jo jo have the same doctor uzzy as conny

[Ruthless-RKO]

umm pretty sue he did lose his title, hence why he's not the champ anymore. how he lost it is another matter. ffs writers step up

Maybe if they wrote never lost it in the ring.