'Welsh Wizard' Joe Cordina stripped of world title by the IBF
IBF World super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina (15-0, 9KO) has been stripped of his world title after pulling out of a mandatory fight due to injury.
The 30-year-old won the IBF super-featherweight title in June when he secured a knockout win over Kenichi Ogawa.
And he was due to defend his belt for the first time against Shavkat Rakhimov on November 5.
However he has withdrawn from the bout because of a hand injury and he will no longer be the title holder.
Cordina responded to the news on social media saying "absolutely gutted" alongside a facepalm emoji.
He announced on Facebook: "My 5th of November fight in Abu Dhabi is off due to a hand injury which needed operating on and to top it off I've been informed I've been stripped of the title!
"I worked my whole life and sacrificed everything to become a world champion and I haven’t even had the chance to defend the title.
"Feel like I’ve been robbed. Breaks my heart, honestly."
The tweet had a photo attached showing a nasty scar on his hand from where he has undergone surgery.
He has reportedly been stripped of the title because he could be out of action until March but the decision has left the former world champion and fight fans fuming.
Fellow Welsh prize fighter, Gavin Gwynne, responded to his friend's tweet to show his support, "This is so wrong in every way possible can’t take a title off someone who can’t fight from a injury what he supposed to do fight with broken hand, gutted for you Joe, I really am."
Despite losing his world champion belt he still holds the WBA Continental super-featherweight title.
Cordina has a 15-0 record with nine victories coming via knockouts.
The Welshman rose to fame winning a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as an amateur.
He then went further winning gold at the 2015 European Championships and he went on to represent Team GB in the 2016 Olympics.
IBF's response
The International Boxing Federation responded to the public backlash with a statement released on the afternoon of October 4th:
"On May 3, 2022, the IBF sent notification to Matchroom Boxing and Team Rakhimov acknowledging that an agreement had been reached for IBF Jr. Lightweight Champion Kenichi Ogawa to participate in an optional defense of the title against Joseph Cordina on June 4, 2022, after the IBF denied an Exception request to do so. The IBF sanctioned the Ogawa vs. Cordina bout with the following pertinent conditions:
1. The IBF will not sanction any bouts to further delay the mandatory defense of the IBF Jr. Lightweight title including requests for unification bouts, nor will the IBF grant any further Exception requests.
2. The winner of the June 4, 2022, bout must make a mandatory defense of the IBF Jr. Lightweight title against Shavkat Rakhimov within 90 days or by September 2, 2022.
On July 7, 2022, the IBF granted Joseph Cordina a medical extension allowing the fight to be rescheduled for November 5, 2022, in the UAE.
On September 21, 2022, the IBF received an email from Matchroom Boxing stating:
“Unfortunately, Joseph Cordina has sustained an injury in training and will be forced to postpone his mandatory defence of the IBF World Super Featherweight Title against Shavkat Rakhimov, which was scheduled for November 5 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.”
In a letter dated September 21, 2022, Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon Mike Hayton wrote that Joseph Cordina’s “Return to boxing will be no sooner than 4 months post-surgery.”
Based on Dr. Hayton’s letter, Joseph Cordina would not return to boxing until approximately March of 2023. Joseph Cordina’s 60-day medical extension for this injury will expire on January 4, 2023, which is prior to the date of Mr. Cordina's estimated return to boxing. To postpone the Cordina vs. Rakhimov bout any further, Mr. Cordina would need to seek and be granted an Exception pursuant to IBF Rule 11. However, one the conditions of the May 3, 2022, IBF communication stated that the IBF will not grant any further Exception request. Additionally, Rule 11 J states in part:
“A reigning Champion shall not be permitted to request more than one Exception to delay a mandatory obligation”.
The IBF has declared the IBF Jr. Lightweight title vacant as a result.
