This Saturday, boxing returns to Cardiff, Wales, as DAZN will likely be streaming his tremendous featherweight title struggle. IBF champ Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) will defend his title in opposition to Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs), a day card right here within the States. Should you bear in mind, Cordina was the champion however was stripped after he suffered a hand damage which pressured him to be sidelined for an prolonged interval. Though this appeared like a knee-jerk response by the IBF, Cordina didn’t complain a lot and was promised a chance to struggle for it after he was healed. That point is now, and each fighters confirmed up on the Cardiff Fort to kick off the struggle week festivities.
SHAVKATDZHON RAKHIMOV VS. JOE CORDINA BETTING ODDS
Per DraftKings, Joe Cordina is the favourite at -265, and Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov is the underdog at +200.
Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov: Choice +550; KO/TKO +400
Draw: +1600
Joe Cordina: Choice +120; KO/TKO +220
Be part of us for the #RakhimovCordina struggle week occasions in Cardiff 👊
💪 Exercise – Tomorrow⚖️ Weigh-In – Friday
Full particulars 👇 pic.twitter.com/EXI72sUUvC
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 18, 2023
Cardiff Fort is one in every of Wales’ main heritage points of interest and a web site of worldwide significance, boasting 2000 years of historical past within the coronary heart of the town. Cordina will likely be trying to create some extra historical past of his personal this weekend as he bids to develop into a two-time World Champion.
‘The Welsh Wizard’ (15-0, 9 KOs) captured the well-known crimson and gold belt with a surprising one-punch knockout of Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa on a memorable night time on the area final June to develop into his nation’s newest World Champion. Cordina was scheduled to make the primary defence of his World Title in opposition to Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi final November however suffered a hand damage that required surgical procedure and was subsequently stripped of his title by the IBF. Tajikistan’s Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) received the vacant title by stopping Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett in 9 rounds on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Ramirez, and the 28-year-old southpaw is relishing the problem of defending his crown in Cordina’s yard.
Rakhimov vs. Cordina headlines an enormous night time of boxing in Cardiff; Welsh rivals Gavin Gwynne (15-2-1, 3 KOs) and Craig Woodruff (12-6-1, 4 KOs) rematch for the British Light-weight Title following their thrilling draw on the Bolton Whites Resort final September, Manchester Cruiserweight Jordan Thompson (14-0, 11 KOs) places his IBF European Title on the road in opposition to Swindon’s Luke Watkins (16-2, 11 KOs), Derby’s Sandy Ryan (5-1, 2 KOs) clashes with Canada’s Marie Pier Houle (8-0-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant WBO Welterweight Title, Manchester’s former World Title challenger Zelfa Barrett (28-2, 16 KOs) faces the USA’s Jason Sanchez (16-3, 9 KOs) for the WBA Continental Tremendous-Featherweight Title, Australia’s Skye Nicolson (6-0) steps up in opposition to Peru’s Linda Laura Lecca (15-6-2, 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Featherweight, Swansea Tremendous-Bantamweight Brandon Scott (4-0, 1 KO) takes on India’s Karan Gill (3-0, 1 KO) over 4 rounds, Newport Tremendous-Featherweight Nathan Howells (5-0-1) meets Oldbury’s Jahfieus Faure over 4 rounds, Swansea Mild-Heavyweight Sammy Lee (1-0) fights Latvia’s Juris Zundovskis (6-5, 5 KOs) over six rounds and Kingston Heavyweight Miles Gordan-Darby (3-0) takes on Swindon’s Phil Williams (5-41-1, 1 KO) over 4 rounds.
