Joe Cordina took out months of frustration on Shavkat Rakhimov as he regained the IBF super featherweight title on Saturday.
Cordina (16-0, 9 KOs) first won the belt in June last year when he iced Kenichi Ogawa with a stunning one-punch knockout at Cardiff International Arena.
But a broken hand suffered in his first sparring session back in the gym meant the former Team GB amateur standout could not fulfil a mandatory obligation against Rakhimov (17-1-1, 14 KOs). The IBF stripped him and the Tajikistani southpaw stopped Zelfa Barrett in nine rounds to win the vacant belt last November.
That set up a showdown back in Cordina’s home city of the Welsh capital and the pair produced an irresistible barnburner.
The Freddie Roach-trained Rakhimov displayed his relentless pressure and concussive power, rocking Cordina in round five. However, he’d already been put over by a textbook left hook in the second.
WATCH: Rakhimov vs. Cordina exclusively on DAZN
Cordina refused to be cowed by an imposing foe, frequently staying in the pocked to unfurl crisp combinations and that cleaner, more precise work earned the 31-year-old a split decision win via verdicts of 115-112 and 114-113 in his favour, with an inexplicable score of 116-111 from judge Alex Levin calling it for Rakhimov.
"I just felt no one could beat me tonight," Cordina said afterwards. "He caught me with good shots [but] no way he would beat me. No chance.
"Anyone who has got a belt I'm happy to share a ring with. I want all the belts. Let's do it."
A voluntary defence against fellow Briton Barrett could be up next after the Manchester fighter dropped Jason Sanchez before closing out a wide decision win over the former world title challenger on the undercard.
But Cordina and promoter Eddie Hearn have spoken of blockbuster outdoor events in Cardiff and unifying with some of the champions below would certainly fit the bill.
Who is the WBO super featherweight champion?
Emanuel Navarette would be the highest-risk assignment for Cordina from his fellow 130lb champions but also provides the most mouthwatering prospect. A showdown with the Mexican star would be a guaranteed stadium filler.
Navarette (37-1, 31 KOs) is a three-weight world champion, having also reigned at super bantamweight and featherweight. The sole blemish on his record came in a four-rounder in the sixth fight of his career back in 2012.
A two-fight series with Issac Dogboe saw him win and defend his first world title, the WBO’s 122lb-strap and announced his arrival at world level.
The 28-year-old has boxed exclusively for titles from that sanctioning body ever since and showed there was nothing wrong with his power at the higher weight class when he stepped up to stop Liam Wilson in nine rounds earlier this year. He had to recover from a heavy fourth-round knockdown to do so, however, something Cordina will undoubtedly have noted.
Who is the WBC super featherweight champion?
O'Shaquie Foster boxed masterfully to prevent Rey Vargas from becoming a three-weight world champion in February, winning a wide unanimous decision at San Antonio’s Alamodome to win the vacant WBC title.
As far as Cordina is concerned, a Vargas win would have made for a more marketable fight and a better payday. The Mexican now looks set to step back down to featherweight, where he is still the WBC champion.
Two defeats to nondescript opponents early in his career and a five-month prison sentence means Foster’s rise to the top of the division has been as unlikely as it has been spectacular. He holds a 20-2 (11 KOs) pro record thanks to an ongoing 10-fight winning streak.
Like Navarette, Foster was fighting for a vacant belt on account of Shakur Stevenson missing weight for his September 2022 meeting with Robson Conceicao and then stepping up to lightweight.
For sure and I’ll have some ready for you too 😉👊🏽 https://t.co/y2J4EW83bS
— Joe Cordina OLY (@JoeCordina_91) April 25, 2023
Who is the WBA super featherweight champion?
Cordina was inevitably outshone as the boxing story of the weekend by Gervonta Davis’ statement seventh-round KO of Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.
In his previous fight, Davis stopped Hector Luis Garcia, the WBA super featherweight champion who stepped up in weight to pit his wits against the pound-for-pound star.
It means Garcia (16-1, 10 KOs) is yet to defend the belt he won against Roger Gutierrez. The WBA has ordered him to face American Lamont Roach by May 20 but that fight is yet to be signed.
In the event of the belt becoming vacant, Cordina is not ranked in the WBA’s top 15, so this route appears to be closed at the present time.