Former WBA Super Lightweight World champion Gavin Rees retired in 2014. He now trains many young fighters coming off the conveyer-belt in Wales.
Rees won his world title back in 2007 with a unanimous decision win over Souleymane M’baye. He would lead a distinguished career that saw him challenge Adrien Broner for a world title and won European and British titles.
Rees spoke exclusively to ProBox TV News to give his opinion on the super featherweight world title fight between Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and Joe Cordina tomorrow in Cardiff, live on DAZN.
“Boxing is big back in Wales now innit.” Rees said. “We need Joe Cordina to win on Saturday night to keep the big time boxing coming back to Wales.We need him to win then the young boys on the undercard can follow in his footsteps.”
Rees looks over prospect Brandon Scott (4-0), who fights Reynaldo Cajina on the undercard in the Welsh capital. Scott dazzled the crowd running to the ring at the open workout dressed as Spiderman. The young fighters supporting Cordina this weekend are utilising the platform to full effect.
Cordina faces Rakhimov for the IBF World title he won last year with a 2nd round knockout over Kenichi Ogawa, to be stripped of his title due to a hand injury not long after winning the belt.
“I thought it was out of order when the IBF took the belt off Joe, but he has the chance to win it back on Saturday night. In my eyes he is still the world champion, he only needed a couple of months to deal with an injury. The whole of Wales is behind Joe, we need him to win this for Welsh boxing.”
