JOE CORDINA ripped back his IBF super-featherweight world title with a thrilling split decision win over Shavkat Rakhimov.
The 31-year-old Welshman won the red and gold belt with a sensational knockout last June but – when it was revealed he needed surgery on a hand later broken in sparring for his first defence – he was stripped in October.
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Undeterred and undefeated, he got a second crack at the crown in his home city of Cardiff and regained his belt with a perfect blend of skill and savagery, taking it with cards of 111-116, 115-112 & 114-113.
Cordina’s hands were fast and accurate and his front-foot pivot was slick, Rakhimov – the 28-year-old from Tajikistan – piled forward hurling body punches.
The southpaw champion landed regularly with his heavy left hand but Cordina was happy to trade with him in the second.
And then a left hook dropped Rakhimov but he stunned the crowd by beating the count and surviving the round.
Rakhimov’s left eye was a bloody and bruised mess by the end of the sixth, following a string of right hands from the orthodox Brit.
Cordina – for so long regarded a Welsh wizard best at using his long wands from distance – was like a Mexican gunslinger throwing bombs in the pocket in the seventh.
The scarred right hand – that has now been rebuilt with two operations – landed again in the eighth and buzzed the wilting visitor.
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It was nip-and-ruck in the championship rounds as Cordina tried to box and Rakhimov kept brawling, with almost equal success.
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But it was the hometown hero showboating and celebrating in the final sessions as he expected his second coronation.