Joe Cordina: Welshman 'gutted' as injury cancels world title defence against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov

Joe Cordina says he is "absolutely gutted" after his super-featherweight world title defence against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov was called off because of injury.

The Welsh boxer, who has had surgery on a hand, says he has been stripped of his title by the IBF.

"Worked my whole life to become a world champion and I haven't even had the chance to defend the title," said Cordina on social media.

He added: "Feel like I've been robbed."


Cordina had been due to defend his title in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 5 November on the undercard of the light-heavyweight world title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez.

Rakhimov, the IBF's mandatory challenger, had stepped aside to allow the Welshman to fight former champion Kenichi Ogawa in Cardiff in June.

The 30-year-old, nicknamed 'The Welsh Wizard', became Wales' 13th world champion with a stunning one-punch knockout of Japan's Ogawa.

Cordina is undefeated in 16 pro fights.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/63128633