Former IBF super featherweight champion Joe Cordina returns to training following an injury that saw him lose his world title outside of the ring.
The ‘Welsh Wizard’ is back smashing the bag with both hands, as his right hand has healed following the injury that cost him his world title.
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Cordina produced one of the best knockouts of 2022 to claim the IBF title in June when he levelled Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in front of a raucous crowd in Cardiff. The ‘Welsh Wizard’ was at the top of the tree in the super featherweight division and wanted the big fights.
JOE CORDINA JUST DID THAT 👀#OgawaCordina pic.twitter.com/OXsBcqgqVe
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 4, 2022
The undefeated Welshman had to face his mandatory next and was pencilled in to fight Shavkat Rakhimov on November 5th in Abu Dhabi. Cordina could see the big fights on the horizon if he was to defeat Rakhimov, but disaster struck in his training camp. The Welshman would injure his right hand, which was considered his most dangerous weapon following the Ogawa victory.
The ‘Welsh Wizard’ was forced to pull out of his clash with his mandatory, leading to the IBF making a very controversial decision to strip the Welshman of his title.Â
Rakhimov instead fought Zelfa Barrett on November 5th, and the vacant IBF title was on the line. The ‘Welsh Wizard’ was in attendance and also had a very bittersweet moment as he crossed paths with Rakhimov on fight week. Rakhimov would defeat Barrett via ninth-round TKO to pick up the world title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that both Rakhimov and Barrett had agreed that the winner of their clash will fight Cordina in their first defence. In a recent interview with Boxing Social, Hearn confirmed that Rakhimov will travel to the scene of Cordina’s greatest night, and fight the former champion at the Cardiff International Arena in April.