It was a momentous night for Welsh boxing as Joe Cordina reclaimed his world title in front of a packed Cardiff International Arena. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the 31-year-old went toe-to-toe with Shavkat Rakhimov in a thrilling and closely contested fight.

Cordina had a point to prove, having been stripped of the IBF super-featherweight title due to injury last year. But he rose to the challenge and dug deep to secure a split decision win over his opponent.

With his world title back in his possession, Cordina is now looking to the future. He believes that Welsh boxing is on the rise and wants to be at the forefront of the movement, building on the cultural success of Welsh football.

The boxer is already calling out potential opponents for his next fights, including O’Shaquie Foster, Emanuel Navarrete, and Hector García. He knows that he has a lot of hard work ahead of him, but he’s up for the challenge.

For Cordina, this victory marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career. He’s on top of the world and hungry for more success. With his eyes firmly fixed on the prize, there’s no doubt that he’ll continue to make waves in the boxing world for years to come.

The judges’ scorecards were closely contested, with one giving the nod to Rakhimov by a significant margin. However, Cordina’s performances on the other two scorecards were enough to secure him the victory.

But it wasn’t just the fight that got people talking. Cordina also addressed the controversy surrounding comments made by Rakhimov’s manager about drug testing, saying that it had been a “distraction” following the fight.

Cordina said,

“To be honest, after I heard the first score, I was still not worrying, I just thought I won this fight. I’ve got enough experience to know when you’re winning a fight and when you’re losing. I don’t know how someone can get that scorecard so far opposite. I wouldn’t be celebrating in the last round if I thought I had lost.”

“It’s frustrating that Victor Conte came out after the fight to try and discredit the win, but it’s nothing more than that. He’s always used to the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk, who have come over and wiped the floor with the opposition.”

“I’ve got no issues with Rakhimov. There’s only respect there. This is business, and we didn’t really have bad blood; it was just that he took the vacant belt. I shook his hand; we had a hug after the fight, and then he left.”

Matchroom and Cordina put on a spectacular show for Welsh sports fans, tapping into the nation’s rich sporting culture. It was the highlight of an incredible weekend of Welsh sport.

“Yeah, it feels nice because, like I said before, to bring big nights of boxing to Cardiff was one of my goals. And I’m on track to do it again,” the 31-year-old added.

“I think last year was obviously a lot harder for me. I had to get my belt back. There was a lot of pressure on me; the whole of Welsh boxing was on my shoulders. But we’ve done that. And now it’s time to push on and bring even bigger nights back to the city.”

“Matchroom has been good to me so far. And I think now, with me winning my second world title, they believe in me and that I can go on and unify the division and become an undisputed champion.

“It’s definitely time to build on what we have all achieved. There are going to be some big nights, with Jay Harris, Shaun McGoldrick, and Gavin Gwynne.

In a world where athletes are often driven by money and fame, Joe Cordina is a refreshing change of pace. He is solely focused on being a champion and achieving his goal of winning more belts.

Cordina remarked:

“I’m driven by the pursuit of more belts, it’s as simple as that. When I achieved my goal of becoming a world champion, I didn’t stop there.

“My focus has always been on being a champion, not on the financial side of things. Winning that first world title was my main goal, and now that I have my second, I know there’s always going to be someone else coming for it.

“So, I have to keep pushing myself and keep winning if I want to keep my belt and hopefully win some more. As for who’s next, I’ve got my eye on a few fighters.

“O’Shaquie Foster, Emanuel Navarrete and Hector García, any of those guys would be a great next challenge for me.”