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Rakhimov vs. Cordina Final Press Conference Quotes
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:
“Well good afternoon everyone, Prynhawn Da from here in
Cardiff, a head of a huge World Title doubleheader on
Saturday night as we said, rolling into the incredible fight
between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis live and exclusive on
DAZN around the world on Saturday night. The continuation of
a tremendous schedule of course coming off the Anthony
Joshua victory on April 1. Cardiff this Saturday, we go to
Guadalajara and another one of Tony Sims in charge, John
Ryder fights for the undisputed World Championship against
Canelo Alvarez in front of 55,000 in Guadalajara. A couple
of weeks later, of course, Katie Taylor returns to Dublin,
for the first time against fellow undisputed champion
Chantelle Cameron in a tremendous fight and the week after
Leigh Wood gets his chance to become World Champion again
against Mauricio Lara. Unbelievable schedule coming your way
on DAZN and an unbelievable main event for us on Saturday
night.”
Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov:
"I’m born ready. I have a very good team with me. I have a
great, the best coach in Freddie Roach. We know the key to
the victory and we will prove it on Saturday. We will just
show it in the ring on Saturday."
Freddie Roach:
"We’ve had a really good training camp, especially the last
couple of months in my gym. And we have a lot of good
sparring partners. I have 14 Pro fighters and he has out
powered everyone. I mean, he's in great shape for this fight
and he's ready. We know we're in a tough fight and it is a
great place to have it.
"In some way you know I hear how fast our opponent is and
how quick he is and so forth. But when I watched the tapes
I'm really not impressed with his speed and I think I have
the faster and stronger person and I think that will make
the difference in the fight."
Egis Kilmas:
"Thank you for having us here in Cardiff. I remember, this
city brings me very good memories. One of my fighters Sergey
Kovalev became a champion 10 years ago, and so we are happy
to be back. We know it's not going to be an easy fight,
Cordina is a very good fighter, but Rakhimov is ready to
defend his title."
Joe Cordina:
"Yeah, of course. People ask me, What do you think of him?
He's a World Champion at the end of the day.. He's tough.
He's strong. He's fit. But you've got to have that little
bit more and I just don't believe he has it to beat me. But
we will see on Saturday. I'm grateful that I've got the
opportunity once again, thanks to you Matchroom and DAZN for
giving me this opportunity back in my hometown. But yeah
it's gonna be a tough night.
"The anthems, the performances and all that is amazing, but
first and foremost, we have to get that win for me to bring
big nights of boxing back to Cardiff again and again and
again like Joe Calzaghe did and give other fighters that
opportunity to showcase their talent around the world.
"So that was always my plan when I came into pro boxing. So
yeah, for me, that's what I wanted to do. And I believe,
after my last win last year in June that was the start. But
we've had a little bit of a break. So now I get this title
back on Saturday. And then that's the start where all the
big nights will be happening once again.
"Like you said, his aggression when he comes forward is
fairly strong. And he does look to anger but I will aim put
it out early. So, it could end in the distance, but I'll
just go out there to win. And then I push on but yeah, I
said the same with Ogawa. I just want to get the win and
move on. And like I said if it goes within the distance, I'm
happy because like you say, in boxing you don't get paid for
overtime.I've said it over and over again to people asked me
how long you've been boxing. It's mad you live away in Essex
when you're in camp. I've been doing this for 10-11 years.
When I started boxing at 16, two years later, 18, I was on a
GB squad and from then I lived in Sheffield for seven and a
half years to improve - I just knew for me to keep away from
all the distractions I had to move away. And then I was in
camp with Tony Sims since I was 18, now I'm 31. I've been
living away from home sacrificing missing my kids their
birthdays, even their first birthday, I nearly missed two of
their births. So everything I'm doing now and sacrificing
that was for them in the future and he's standing in a way
for me providing for my kids. So yeah, it's a big night for
me on Saturday."
Tony Sims:
"Yeah, it is. It was like a freak injury. And as you say it
was the first round of the spa, the first the first shot he
landed and it was just a freak injury, obviously he's had
surgery on it. And you know, in the end it is all good now
and he's got his opportunity to regain the title. And you
know it's going to be a really hard fight. Rakhimov is a
really good fighter. He's tough, so it's gonna be hard, but
Joe's training diligently for this fight and he's been down
in my gym in Essex since January. And you know, he's in
fantastic condition - mentally and physically, he's ready to
go.
"Freddie, as you say, he is a legend in our sport. You know,
he's had so many world champions you normally wouldn't be
training him if he didn't think the fighter was good. So, we
know we have got a tough job on our hands, but I believe in
Joe Cordina, his boxing IQ is second to none. And it's gonna
be a great night, the atmosphere is going to be fantastic in
the arena. And we are just looking forward to Saturday night
getting in the ring now."
Charlie Sims:
"Yeah, it was obviously a great moment for the team. Great
moment for Joe when he won the World Title. It was just
astonishing. Knockout was amazing to see.
"Then the disappointment. We felt it was unfair that
obviously he got stripped from being injured but Matchroom,
Eddie and Frank made a promise to get the title back, bring
it back to Cardiff and give us the opportunity.
"Now it's up to the team up to Joe Cordina to make the
opportunity count to become a two-time World Champion in the
city of Cardiff."
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