Undefeated Welsh boxer Joe Cordina has been stripped of his super-featherweight world title without making a single defence after withdrawing from his upcoming bout with a hand injury.
Cordina, 30, won the 130lb IBF world in June by knocking out Kenichi Ogawa to improve his unbeaten record to 15 fights. He was scheduled to defend his belt against Shavkat Rakhimov, who is unbeaten in 17 fights, on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol vs Gilberto Ramirez on November 5, but was forced to withdraw from the title defence just over a month from the fight because of his injury.
The IBF informed Cordina he would be stripped of his world title for withdrawing as the No. 1 contender Rakhimov is now pencilled in to fight Zelfa Barrett for Cordina's belt. The Welshman, who recently underwent surgery for his injury, said of the news: "Absolutely gutted. Worked my whole life to become a world champion and I haven’t even had the chance to defend the title. Feel like I’ve been robbed."
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Two months ago, the IBF gave Cordina a medical extension to allow him to fight Rakhimov, who was paid to step aside to allow Cordina to fight Ogawa, in November. The organisation granted Cordina another medical extension which would expire on January 4, but the Welshman won't be available to compete until approximately March, which is why he was stripped of the title.
Rakhimov's fight against Barrett marks his second chance to clinch a world title having previously fought to a draw against Joseph Diaz Jr in February of last year. Diaz failed to make weight ahead of the fight, so the IBF belt then became vacant, which put Rakhimov in pole position for a mandatory shot. His new opponent Barrett, who holds a record of 28-1, is unbeaten in his last nine fights and challenges for a world title for the first time in his career by facing Rakhimov.
Bivol's light heavyweight title defence against Ramirez will headline the Matchroom Boxing event on November 5 in Abu Dhabi. In addition to Rakhimov's fight against Barrett, an undisputed women's super-lightweight title fight between Chantelle Cameron and Jessica McCaskill will also take place on the card.
