Joe Cordina reclaimed the title he never lost in the ring.
The undefeated Welshman made the most of a second straight homecoming, as he became a two-time IBF junior lightweight titlist with a hard-fought split decision win over Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov. A fifth-round knockdown by Cordina was the difference on the card of Phil Edwards (114-113, Cordina) to produce the win in their DAZN-aired main event Saturday evening from Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales.
Edwards’ card was one round closer than judge Pawel Kardyni (115-112, Cordina), which trumped the absurdly wide card of Alex Levin (116-111, Rakhimov) in the other direction,
Cordina soaked in all of the hometown ambiance but did not get caught up in the moment as he sought to become a two-time titlist. The unbeaten Welshman entered fight week with a chip on his shoulder, having never lost his title in the ring but still forced to play the role of challenger. The IBF vacated the crown when Cordina was unable to honor his November 5 mandatory title defense versus Rakhimov after suffering a broken hand in his first day of training camp last fall.
Cordina was a -300 favorite according to bet365 sportsbook to regain his title and fought accordingly in the opening round with crisp jabs and right uppercuts along with slick footwork. Rakhimov enjoyed brief success with a flurry late in the round and connected with a looping left before the bell to potentially steal the round.
Rakhimov remained in Cordina’s face throughout a furiously paced round two. It came at a cost in every way imaginable.
The visiting Tajikistani southpaw was warned by referee Steve Gray for leading with his head. It was the least of his troubles, as Cordina immediately took the lead. A body shot hurt the defending titlist before a combination set up a straight left to floor Rakhimov inside the final minute of round two. To his credit, Rakhimov stormed back upon rising to his feet but fell in an early hole on the scorecards and in front of a partisan crowd.
Cordina put his superior skill set to good use in round three. Rakhimov tried in vain to make it in an inside fight. He was consistently beaten to the punch by the supremely talented Cordina, who used infighting skills to avoid power shots. Rakhimov went on the hunt in the final ten seconds but was clipped by a counter left hook.
Rakhimov refused to wilt. His best moment of the fight came with just over a minute to go in round five, when an overhand right by Rakhimov snapped back Cordina’s head. Cordina was dazed and forced to clinch. His survival instincts proved effective as Cordina was able to hurt Rakhimov in the closing seconds.
Time was called at the 1:13 mark of round six as both boxers were warned for fighting through a break command. It came as Rakhimov rallied and hurt Cordina to the body. Cordina allowed Rakhimov to come forward and cranked a counter left hook. Right hands by the local favorite also caused a cut over Rakhimov’s left eye, which also sported a growing mouse.
Cordina repeatedly caught Rakhimov coming in, landing right hands at will. Rakhimov was unable to defend as his eye was on the verge of swelling shut. The crowd sensed a stoppage was near and went into a frenzy as Cordina drove his unbeaten counterpart to the ropes.
Rakhimov rallied late in round nine. Cordina was casually warned for hitting on the break, after which point Rakhimov landed to the body and also connected with a combination upstairs. Still, fatigue and wear and tear were factors as Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach asked his charge in between rounds if he was able to continue.
Cordina was issued a warning for a two-arm extended push in round ten. He responded with jabs and straight right hands upstairs. Rakhimov bit down and fired off body shots late in the frame, though his left eye was nearly swollen shut by that point.
World-class cutman Mike Rodriguez worked his magic to keep the southpaw in the fight but Rakhimov quickly ran out of rounds to retain his title. He didn’t go down without a fight, walking down Cordina in round eleven before he ran into a flurry by the undefeated house favorite. The two fought on tight terms in the twelfth and final round to provide nervous moments before hearing the official verdict.
Rakhimov won the vacant IBF title in a ninth-round knockout of Zelfa Barrett last November 5 in Abu Dhabi. The unbeaten southpaw was originally due to challenge Cordina, but rose to the occasion—and off the canvas—to win the title on his second try. His lone blemish prior to Saturday came in a twelve-round draw versus an overweight Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz, who lost the IBF title at the scales ahead of their February 2021 meeting in Indio, California.
The win over Barrett remains the career highlight for the moment, as Rakhimov (17-1-1, 14KOs) is now an ex-titlist barely five months after he hit paydirt.
Cordina fulfilled his prediction of becoming a two-time titleholder. Fittingly, he accomplished the feat in the very same venue where he first won the belt in a sensational second-round knockout of Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa last June 3. The win over Rakhimov sends Cordina’s record to 16-0 (9KOs) and will enter a voluntary defense for his next fight. Pre-fight rumors suggest he will next face Barrett, who soundly outpointed Jason Sanchez on Saturday’s undercard.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox