WHEN Joe Cordina iced Kenichi Ogawa after simply 4 minutes and 15 seconds of their conflict in Cardiff final June, it regarded as if the Welsh expertise had lastly arrived on the world stage. But the enjoyment of that evening within the coronary heart of his residence metropolis shortly made manner for months of frustration for the 31-year-old super-featherweight.
In the primary spherical of his first spar again in camp, Cordina snapped a bone in the identical proper hand that had worn out Ogawa. It meant {that a} scheduled struggle with Shavkat Rakhimov needed to be postponed.
But even worse for him, the harm provoked the IBF to strip him of the belt he had received by beating Ogawa. Rakhimov went on to win the vacant title by advantage of a ninth-round stoppage of Zelfa Barrett in Abu Dhabi in November.
Cordina was ringside that evening, secure within the data his promoter Eddie Hearn would ship him the winner and he has executed precisely that. This weekend, again on the Cardiff Arena, world No.4 Cordina will tackle No.5 Rakhimov with that very same IBF strap on the road, with the house fighter as soon as once more the challenger. The card can be proven reside on DAZN within the UK.
Cordina’s struggle with Ogawa had been seen by most as a 50/50, with only a few choosing the Welshman to win inside the gap. This time he’s a transparent favorite with the bookmakers regardless of practically a yr off and critical surgical procedure on his injured proper hand.
In the speedy aftermath of Rakhimov’s victory over Barrett, Cordina had claimed {that a} comparable efficiency in Wales would enable him to ‘box circles around’ the Tajikistan southpaw as a result of Cordina insists he’s nonetheless brimming with confidence on account of what went down in Cardiff 10 months in the past.
“I’ve felt like a different man because of that win,” he mentioned. “In every part I’m doing, I’ve acquired that confidence now.
“I’ve executed what all of the fighters that I’ve watched, studied, regarded as much as and admired did. I’ve executed that too now. Now I believe: ‘I am that good’. I’ve at all times believed it and I’ve at all times mentioned I’d be a world champion. When I went within the workplace, I mentioned to Eddie to get me the struggle and go away the remainder to me.
“That moment against Ogawa, I arrived on the world scene and in this fight, I’ve got the confidence I gained that night but also the bit between my teeth that I need to prove something. It’s a proper concoction, that.”
Add in his counter-punching capability, shot choice and now famous punch energy on account of the win over Ogawa, and Cordina appears to be like like a critical proposition for anybody within the division. Given Shakur Stevenson’s transfer to light-weight, a formidable win right here might make him the putative No.1.
But Freddie Roach skilled Rakhimov is a critical operator too. He is 17-0-1 (14) with the one blemish on that document a majority draw with an obese Jo Jo Diaz in February 2021. He is a critical puncher on the weight and can be assured of discovering a gap to shut the present in some unspecified time in the future throughout these 12 rounds with Cordina.
But, offered his hand – which now has a plate and 5 screws in it – holds up, the choose here’s a Cordina choice in one other star-making struggle throughout which he should show his mettle. Let’s hope his first spar again afterwards goes extra easily.
Earlier, Barrett will return for the primary time since he was crushed by Rakhimov 5 months in the past. The Manchester man had been scheduled to tackle Alex Dilmaghani right here however when he withdrew by means of harm, Alberquerque’s Jason Sanchez stepped up for this 12-rounder.
Barrett had been boxing fantastically at instances in opposition to Rakhimov, who he dropped with a elegant uppercut within the third, however suffered a perforated eardrum and, together with his stability utterly shot, was ultimately stopped within the ninth. Sanchez, in the meantime, is 2-3 in his final 5 however can punch. If Barrett can keep out of any actual bother he ought to win this clearly.
In what may very well be the perfect struggle on the undercard, there’s a south Wales derby for the British light-weight title as Gavin Gwynne and Craig Woodruff meet once more following their majority attract September.
That preliminary conflict, broadcast on Channel 5, was a real traditional which each males thought they’d received. Now they may do it once more on DAZN with Gwynne a slight favorite with the bookmakers. He made a gradual begin in September but when he can get forward this time he ought to handle to nick a choice right here however one other draw is just not out of the query.
There can be an intriguing home conflict at cruiserweight with undefeated Jordan Thompson taking over Swindon’s English champion Luke Watkins over 10. Thompson appears to be like to be en path to the higher echelons of the division and Watkins will present a good yardstick of how far off the likes of Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith he’s. Thompson on factors appears seemingly.
Elsewhere welterweight Sandy Ryan containers for the primary time this yr when she takes on Canada’s Marie Pier Houle. Ryan, 29, has received twice since she was crushed by Erica Anabella Farias in March of final yr and ought to turn into the primary individual to beat 8-0-1 (2) Houle. A large factors win is the choose.
There are additionally run outs for 5 of Matchroom’s undefeated prospects. Skye Nicolson, the 6-0 Australian, faces Linda Laura Lecce in an eight-twos featherweight conflict. Swansea light-heavyweight Sammy Lee, in the meantime, will hope to maneuver to 2-0 by beating Juris Zundovskis over six.
Super-bantamweight Brandon Scott, super-featherweight Nathan Howells and heavyweight Miles Gordon-Darby full the undercard with a trio of four-rounders early on in Cardiff.
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