Joe Cordina fights Shavkat Rakhimov tonight, hoping to become a two-time world champion in Cardiff.
It is the same belt that the Welshman claimed with a memorable early knockout of Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa on home soil last summer, only to be quickly stripped without making a solitary defence due to a nasty hand injury that forced him to withdraw from a meeting against mandatory challenger Rakhimov.
The Tajikistani southpaw then fought for the vacant title on the Dmitry Bivol-Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez undercard in Abu Dhabi in November, bouncing back from an initial knockdown to overwhelm and then stop Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett in the ninth round of a thrilling contest.
Back fit and fighting again in front of a passionate Cardiff boxing crowd this evening, Cordina is spurred on by a burning sense of injustice as he bids to regain the gold he feels was unfairly taken from him in a highly-anticipated main event.
Cordina vs Rakhimov date, start time, venue and ring walks
Cordina vs Rakhimov takes place tonight on Saturday April 22, 2023 at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, south Wales.
The main undercard is due to get underway from 7pm BST, with coverage of the early fights on ‘Before the Bell’ from 4:15pm.
Main event ring walks are expected at approximately 10pm, though that is subject to change depending on the length of the undercard bouts.
Cordina vs Rakhimov fight card/undercard in full
On Saturday’s undercard, Sandy Ryan meets Marie-Pier Houle for the vacant WBO women’s welterweight belt in just her seventh professional outing.
Zelfa Barrett also returns to action in a WBA Continental super-featherweight title scrap, while Jordan Thompson defends his IBF European cruiserweight title against Luke Watkins.
There’s also a rematch for the British lightweight strap between two Welshmen in Gavin Gwynne and Craig Woodruff, while Australian rising star Skye Nicolson is also on the bill.
Shavkat Rakhimov vs Joe Cordina
Zelfa Barrett vs Jason Sanchez
Jordan Thompson vs Luke Watkins
Gavin Gwynne vs Craig Woodruff
Sandy Ryan vs Marie-Pier Houle
Skye Nicholson vs Linda Lecca
Sammy Lee vs Juris Zundovskis
Brandon Scott vs Reynaldo Cajina
Miles Gordon-Darby vs Phil Williams
Nathan Howells vs Jahfieus Faur
How to watch Cordina vs Rakhimov
TV channel and live stream: In the UK and around the world, Cordina vs Rakhimov is being broadcast live and exclusive tonight on DAZN. A subscription currently costs from £9.99 per month in the UK.
The sports streaming service is available online across all devices and now has DAZN 1 HD in the UK and Ireland on channel 429 on Sky.
Cordina vs Rakhimov fight prediction
Though he ended up producing the stoppage, Cordina will have seen plenty of weaknesses in Rakhimov’s performance against Barrett over the winter that he will be very keen to exploit.
While he does not get the recognition or platform he deserves and has been frustrated by more than one injury as a professional, the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist is one of the most skilled and watchable fighters in British boxing at the moment.
He arguably should never have been stripped of his title in the first place and we’re backing Cordina to win it back in some style in front of his adoring home fans, joining the esteemed ranks of multi-time world champions with a wide decision victory.
Cordina to win on points.
Cordina vs Rakhimov weigh-in results
Cordina hit the scales at Friday’s weigh-in at 129.1lbs, while Rakhimov was ever so slightly heavier at 129.7lbs.
Both men were under the 130lbs super-featherweight limit.
Cordina vs Rakhimov betting odds
Cordina to win: 4/11
Rakhimov to win: 21/10
Draw: 16/1
Cordina to win by knockout or TKO: 11/4
Cordina to win on points or by decision: 11/10
Rakhimov to win by knockout or TKO: 7/2
Rakhimov to win on points or by decision: 6/1
