Joe Cordina Wants to Knockout IBF Champ Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov!
Despite its highs and personal setbacks, 2022 has been a breakthrough year for Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs). He hopes 2023 is a year of continued prosperity in and out of the ring. If all stays on track, he looks to battle IBF champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14) in 2023.
In June 2022, Cordina scored one of the knockouts of the year when he scored a one-punch, second-round knockout of Kenichi Ogawa to win the IBF junior lightweight strap. The thrill of that win soon dissipated. Cordina was stripped of the belt when an injured hand forced him to withdraw from a match against Rakhimov, the then-IBF mandatory challenger.
Rakhimov captured the suddenly vacant IBF belt with a ninth-round stoppage of Zelfa Barrett (28-2, 16 KOs) in November 2022. Per an IBF ruling, Rakhimov’s first title defense will be against Cordina.
SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST
On the shelf since the win over Ogawa, the pride of Cardiff, Wales can’t wait to get back into action and fight Rakhimov. During a sit-down interview with media outlet the BBC, Cordina is clear about what he has in store for the fighter from Bokhtar,Tajikistan.
“I need my title back, and he’s got my title, so he is next . . . I’m going to need to leave Rakhimov in the same way I left Ogawa – stretched on the canvas.”
Cordina has had a history of hand injuries. The 31-year-old had initial concerns about his latest injury. But this time, the recovery process has been smooth. All that is left is to get the final word from the doctors to resume training.
The ex-champ believes the battle with Rakhimov happens in the Spring of 2023. Whenever the fight occurs, Cordina is hell-bent on reclaiming what he felt was wrongly taken from him. He is hungry to become the two-time 130-pound champ.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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