The cool boxing evening scheduled for November 5 from Dubai (UAE) has been solidly reduced – the title fight has been thwarted.
In the main event of the show, the WBA Super light heavyweight champion playing for Kyrgyzstan, Russian Dmitry Bivol will fight his mandatory challenger Mexican Gilberto Ramirez.
Another mandatory defense was to take place in the second featherweight (up to 59 kg) – Briton Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs) was supposed to fight Shavkat Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) from Tajikistan. The fight was canceled because the champion injured his hand in preparation.
The IBF reacted harshly to the news: they stripped Cordina of the belt, appointed a duel for the vacant title between Rakhimov and the next fighter in the ranking – Briton Zelfa Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs).
In fact, the decision of the IBF only at first glance seems inconsistent and hasty. Cordina took the IBF belt in June from the Japanese Kenichi Ogawa – you can hardly forget that knockout. Prior to the fight, he agreed to hold a mandatory defense with Rakhimov until September 2, but was eligible for a deferral due to injury.
The IBF was ready to give the fighter another delay – until January. But Cordina will need much more time – at least until March. In this regard, it was decided to take the belt from the Briton. He will be transferred to the mandatory contenders – he will be able to immediately go to the winner of the fight Rakhimov vs Barrett.
Earlier, Cordina managed to challenge Shakur Stevenson, who has already tied up with performances in this division – he moves to lightweights. We’ve been figuring out what’s in store for lightweight with Stevenson’s move.
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