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.”
