Joe Cordina has the chance to win back the IBF featherweight title when he faces Shavkatzhon Rakhimov in Wales on Saturday night. 

Cordina was stripped of the title after he suffered an injury and remains unbeaten, as does his Tajik rival.

The two of them fight live on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand) and will decide who emerges with the championship in their first fight of 2023.

Here's everything you need to know about Rakhimov vs. Cordina.

Shavkat Rakhimov vs Joe Cordina

When is Shavkat Rakhimov vs Joe Cordina?

 Date: Saturday April 22

Start time: 7 p.m. BST | 2 p.m. ET

Main event: 10:47 p.m. BST | 5:47 p.m. ET (approx.)

The event is set to get underway at 7 p.m. BST | 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10:47 p.m. BST | 5:47 p.m. ET. These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights. 

Shavkat Rakhimov vs Joe Cordina: WHAT HAS BEEN SAID?

Tony Bellew told DAZN: “I think it’s a really good fight.

“I think it was a very bizarre decision to strip Joe Cordina. I think it was borderline insane to be fair, the boy didn’t even get a chance to defend his belt.

“It baffles me sometimes. I think the IBF were bang out of order to strip Joe Cordina.

“Rakhimov, straight past Zelfa Barrett, and Joe Cordina before this fight, against [Kenichi] Ogawa, was one of the best knockouts I’d seen, it was brutal.

“The bad injury was just unfortunate because he was about to hit top form, and I think he gets Rakhimov out of there as long as his hand is 100 percent and is right, and he comes into the fight nicely, I think he cops him again.

“It’s not the power of the punch, it’s the timing, the speed. Every fighter will tell you speed and timing will beat power every time.” 

 

Would you like better boxing gloves? Check out our selection of boxing gloves from the Cobra line, which is composed of Carbon Leather for durability with IMF padding for the best protection.

TimeMin SEO