On The Watch “It’s All About Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs Joe Cordina”

IBF Junior Lightweight Challenge

Tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event definitely brought the house down at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales, when IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (17-1-1, 14 Kos) took on former IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 Kos) on his home ground of Cardiff.

This was Joe’s second homecoming and he did not disappoint his fans in attendance. Both combatants threw tough leather at each other right from the jump but it was Joe who established early dominance by dropping Rakhimov in the second round for a quick 8 count.

But not to be deterred by the second-round slipup, Rakhimov came out gunning and applying pressure from that point on with both combatants going toe to toe phone booth style round after round.

This bout was a competitive bout from start to finish. Both combatants had their moments hurting each other back and forth making it very hard to call the rounds clearly for either warrior. Rakhimov was busier with his hands and combination shots but the more telling punches were coming from Cordina.

After 12 completed, exciting rounds of actions, the Judges at hand scored it 116-111 for Rakhimov, 115-112 and 114-113 for Cordina giving him the split decision win and the New IBF Junior Lightweight Champion.

I’m not sure how the Judge that scored it 116-111 saw the fight that far apart but I personally think the right combatant won the bout.

Congratulations Joe on becoming a two-time Junior Lightweight Champion. You walked it like you talked it and delivered on the biggest stage.

Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Mikaela Mayer vs Maiva Hamadouche”

Junior Lightweight IBF/WBO Unification Championship

Last night’s Top Rank Main Event between WBO Junior Lightweight Champion Mikaela Mayer (16-0, 5 Kos) and IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Maiva Hamadouche (22-2, 18 Kos) at the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas was a perfect display of what two of the best female boxers can produce when matched perfectly.

The undefeated Champion Mikaela showed us a different aspect of her boxing game when she elected to bang toe to toe with the always ready known banger Maiva, inside that squared circle. I was quite surprised and impressed to see that Mikaela stood her ground and asserted herself quite well in a tough battle with the shorter but ferocious Maiva.

Maiva came out the gate real aggressive and pressed the action from the jump. Maiva did her best to neutralize Mikaela’s reach but Mikaela’s patience and ring IQ played dividends when she opted to fight fire with fire disrupting Miava’s “game plan”.

This bout was nonstop action with heavy leather being thrown from round 1 to 10 with either combatant letting one another room to breathe. Although both combatants, threw an abundance of punches, it was Mikaela who seemed to land the more telling body to head punches as the rounds progressed.

That being said, after 10 full rounds of action, the Judges scored it 100-90, 99-91, 98-92 unanimously for Mikaela Mayer.

I personally felt that the score card was a lot closer than what they had but I have no dispute with the winner. This bout was by far one of the best fights for the year 2021.

Mikaela fought hard and dug deep for this one and overcame a worthy Champion in Maiva.

Congratulations Mikaela on becoming the New Junior Lightweight IBF/WBO Champion of the World.

Blaze