Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Joe Cordina Kick Off Fight Week
This Saturday, boxing returns to Cardiff, Wales, as DAZN will be streaming his super featherweight title fight. IBF champ Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) will defend his title against Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs), an afternoon card here in the States. If you remember, Cordina was the champion but was stripped after he suffered a hand injury which forced him to be sidelined for an extended period. Although this seemed like a knee-jerk reaction by the IBF, Cordina didn’t complain much and was promised an opportunity to fight for it after he was healed. That time is now, and both fighters showed up at the Cardiff Castle to kick off the fight week festivities.
SHAVKATDZHON RAKHIMOV VS. JOE CORDINA BETTING ODDS
Per DraftKings, Joe Cordina is the favorite at -265, and Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov is the underdog at +200.
Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov: Decision +550; KO/TKO +400
Draw: +1600
Joe Cordina: Decision +120; KO/TKO +220
Join us for the #RakhimovCordina fight week events in Cardiff 👊
💪 Workout – Tomorrow
⚖️ Weigh-In – FridayFull details 👇 pic.twitter.com/EXI72sUUvC
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 18, 2023
Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance, boasting 2000 years of history in the heart of the city. Cordina will be looking to create some more history of his own this weekend as he bids to become a two-time World Champion.
‘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 arena last June to become his country’s latest World Champion.
Cordina was scheduled to make the first defence of his World Title against Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi last November but suffered a hand injury that required surgery and was subsequently stripped of his title by the IBF.
Tajikistan’s Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) won the vacant title by stopping Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett in nine rounds on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Ramirez, and the 28-year-old southpaw is relishing the challenge of defending his crown in Cordina’s backyard.
Rakhimov vs. Cordina headlines a huge night of boxing in Cardiff; Welsh rivals Gavin Gwynne (15-2-1, 3 KOs) and Craig Woodruff (12-6-1, 4 KOs) rematch for the British Lightweight Title following their thrilling draw at the Bolton Whites Hotel last September, Manchester Cruiserweight Jordan Thompson (14-0, 11 KOs) puts his IBF European Title on the line against Swindon’s Luke Watkins (16-2, 11 KOs), Derby’s Sandy Ryan (5-1, 2 KOs) clashes with Canada’s Marie Pier Houle (8-0-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant WBO Welterweight Title, Manchester’s former World Title challenger Zelfa Barrett (28-2, 16 KOs) faces the USA’s Jason Sanchez (16-3, 9 KOs) for the WBA Continental Super-Featherweight Title, Australia’s Skye Nicolson (6-0) steps up against Peru’s Linda Laura Lecca (15-6-2, 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Featherweight, Swansea Super-Bantamweight Brandon Scott (4-0, 1 KO) takes on India’s Karan Gill (3-0, 1 KO) over four rounds, Newport Super-Featherweight Nathan Howells (5-0-1) meets Oldbury’s Jahfieus Faure over four rounds, Swansea Light-Heavyweight Sammy Lee (1-0) fights Latvia’s Juris Zundovskis (6-5, 5 KOs) over six rounds and Kingston Heavyweight Miles Gordan-Darby (3-0) takes on Swindon’s Phil Williams (5-41-1, 1 KO) over four rounds.
