Joe Cordina GUARANTEED World Title Shot In His Next Fight
Shavkat Rakhimov vs Zelfa Barrett Winner Contracted To Defend IBF Title Against Joe Cordina
Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs) faces Tajikistan’s Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) for the vacant IBF super featherweight world title on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol‘s WBA light heavyweight championship defence against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez this Saturday, Nov 5 in Abu Dhabi, UAE; a Matchroom on DAZN card.
This comes after the former champion, Wales’ Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs), injured his right hand whilst in training camp. The champion suffered the same injury in 2019, keeping him out of the ring for over twelve months. The IBF stripped Cordina of his title as a result.
Eddie Hearn revealed to ID Boxing today that both Barrett and Rakhimov are contracted to defend their title against Cordina next should they win, which means either way Cordina will get a chance to become a two-time world champion in his next fight.
British fight fans will be hoping that the underdog Barrett gets the win over Ring Magazine’s #3 130-pounder Rakhimov this weekend allowing for an all-British clash between Zelfa Barrett and Joe Cordina with a world title on the line either in Cardiff or more likely Manchester.
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