In a thrilling matchup at the Cardiff International Arena, Welsh boxer Joe Cordina has regained the IBF super-featherweight title in a split decision victory over Shavkat Rakhimov. The 31-year-old Cordina, who had previously been stripped of the belt due to injury, became the first Welsh boxer to become a two-time world champion in front of his hometown crowd.
The judges’ scorecards were not unanimous, with one judge scoring in favor of Rakhimov 116-111, while the other two gave Cordina the verdict with scores of 115-112 and 114-113 in his favor. Cordina’s unbeaten record now stands at 16 professional fights, and he showed his grit and determination in a highly entertaining match against an unrelenting Rakhimov.
In the second round, Cordina sent Rakhimov to the canvas with a powerful left hook. Despite being badly hurt himself in the fifth, Cordina finished strongly and was able to clinch the victory in the final round with his accurate and quality shots. Rakhimov, fighting with a closed right eye from the sixth round, was relentless in his approach, but Cordina’s superb footwork and precision ultimately won him the victory.
Cordina’s first win of the IBF super-featherweight title came in June of last year, when he knocked out Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa in the second round at the Motorpoint Arena. He was scheduled to defend his title against Rakhimov in November, but a hand injury forced him to pull out, resulting in him being stripped of his belt.
Cordina’s victory has cemented his status as one of Britain’s brightest boxing talents, and his hometown crowd in Cardiff must have been thrilled to witness their hero claim victory once again. With his impressive record and exciting fighting style, boxing fans around the world will surely be eagerly anticipating seeing what Cordina does next.
