Can Joe Cordina Become a Two-Time Champion?
by Steve Ashfield | by Steve Ashfield
Cordina Bids to Win Back his World Title
Welshman Joe Cordina has won all 15 of his professional fights. Despite that fact though, he is a former IBF Super Featherweight champion and desperate to get the belt back around his waist. How has this situation occurred? Well, Cordina won the world title in June of last year and was scheduled to make a first defence against Shavkat Rakhimov but it was not to be.
While training for the fight, Cordina suffered a hand injury and the fight had to be postponed. Worse news was to come though as the IBF in their wisdom decided to strip Cordina of his title which as you'll soon read, Rakhimov went on to win. Now comes the opportunity for Cordina to get back into the ring and get back the title he never lost in the ring.
Cordina had a successful amateur career and fought in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He didn't win a medal and turned professional the following year. Some boxers tend to find in small halls in the early stages of their career. That wasn't the case for Cordina with fights at Wembley Stadium and Bramall Lane, Sheffield and most special of all for him, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
He built up a good unbeaten record and in August 2018 became the Commonwealth Lightweight Champion. The British title was added but he was to find more success when moving down to the Super Featherweight division. When betting on boxing, it's always helpful to judge just how comfortable a boxer is at the weight he's campaigning in.
Last June saw him challenge Kenichi Ngawa for the IBF title at the Cardiff International Arena. A brilliant right to the chin of the defending champion saw Cordina win the title via knockout in just the second round. Little did he imagine that less than a year later, he'd be a former champion and back in Cardiff attempting to retain his title.
Rakhimov Facing Tough Challenge
Tajikstan hasn't had a tremendous amount of success in the world of boxing. That's where Shavkat Rakhimov hails from and he's determined to return home still the IBF Super Featherweight champion of the world.
He's only 28 which is three years younger than his opponent. Rakhimov has also never lost a professional fight but unlike his opponent, he does not have a perfect record. In February 2021, he took on Joseph Diaz for this very title which at the time was vacant. Diaz didn't make the weight so only Rakhimov could win the title. It wasn't to be though as the fight went the distance and was declared a draw. Two judges saw the bout level with the other giving the fight to Diaz by two points.
A shot at Cordina's title was due last year until the world champion injured his hand. Instead, Rakhimov took on Zelfa Barrett for the again vacant title. This time he won the belt, stopping his opponent in the ninth round. It wasn't an easy route to the title though as he hit the canvas in the third round. He recovered well though and floored Barrett twice in the ninth round leading to the fight being stopped.
He's undoubtedly the heavier puncher in this world title fight. 14 of his 17 wins have come inside the distance. He won't be concerned about having to fight abroad as his world title was won in Abu Dhabi. He'll make life difficult for Cordina, that is for sure.
What Next for the Winner?
Zelfa Barrett has been mentioned a few times in this article. He's also on the Cardiff card this weekend and takes on Jason Sanchez. This is Barrett's first fight since losing that world title challenge.
His opponent has lost two of his last three fights so it's likely that Barrett can make a winning return to the ring. If he does, then you can imagine he'll be watching the world title fight very closely and be asking for a shot at the winner.
Other possible opponents for the winner of Saturday's fight could see titles being unified. As is nearly always the case in world boxing, there are several fighters holding world title belts. The WBC belt is held by the American boxer O'Shaquie Foster who has already successfully defended his title once this year and hasn't lost a fight in seven years.
If Cordina does win, then another British fighter chasing a title shot would be Anthony Cacace. He holds the IBO version of the title and defends it against Damian Wrezinski next month. If he wins and Cordina regains his title, an all-British title unificiation fight could well be on its way later this year.
