Round threepublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Ryan v Houle
It's a scrappy start to the round but Ryan picks some nice shots in the latter stages.
Houle wants this to be a brawl and Ryan isn't biting.
Summary
Joe Cordina beats Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov on points to become two-time IBF super-featherweight champion
Two judges scored it 115-112, 114-113 for Cordina, the third gave it 116-111 to Rakhimov
Welshman reclaims title he was stripped of in October due to injury
Cordina dropped Rakhimov in second round in ferocious start to fight
Tajikistan's Rakhimov recovered brilliantly despite fighting with badly swollen eye
Englishwoman Sandy Ryan beats Marie Pier Houle to win WBO welterweight title
Get involved #bbcboxing
Round threepublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Round twopublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Ryan v Houle
Ryan is starting to have some joy behind the jab and looks to be settling in as Houle continues to swing wildly.
Image source, Matchroom BoxingRound onepublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Ryan v Houle
Houle comes out with intent, charging forward and throwing heavy but Ryan also connects with some good shots.
Close first round.
Postpublished at 21:47 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Ryan v Houle
The ladies are in the ring and we're set to get under way in this bout for the vacant WBO welterweight title.
Head-to-headpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Ryan v Houle
Sandy Ryan and Marie-Pier Houle are about to make their entrances.
Stay tuned for world title action.
Image source, Getty ImagesRyan on a fast track to the toppublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
England's Sandy Ryan has the chance to become a world champion in just her seventh professional fight when he faces Marie-Pier Houle for the vacant WBO welterweight title - previously held by American Jessica McCaskill.
Ryan, 29, won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and boasts five victories from six bouts since turning professional in 2021.
Now, the Derby native is on the verge of becoming a world champion but Canada's Houle, who is undefeated in nine fights, stands in her way.
Image source, Getty ImagesGwynne wins rematchpublished at 21:33 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Gwynne beats Woodruff by TKO
That has raised the atmopshere at the Cardiff International Arena.
Wales' Gavin Gwynne has just stopped compatriot Craig Woodruff in round five.
The pair drew when they last met in September but Gwynne left nothing to chance tonight as he retains his British lightweight title.
Image source, PA MediaListen to the action livepublished at 21:23 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
BBC Radio 5 LiveYou can listen to live commentary on tonight's fight on BBC Radio 5 live from 22:00 BST.
Tune in!
'Britain deserves a great British world title fight'published at 21:17 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Barrett beats Sanchez by unanimous decision
Super-featherweight Zelfa Barrett: “My uncle [Pat Barrett] is going to laugh but I believe him now. He’s always said I’m world class, but I believe him now.”
“Listen I would love Joe [Cordina] to win. He’s a Brit and I believe Britain deserves a great British world title fight. This is a great fight.”
Earlier tonightpublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Jordan Thompson kicked off the main card with a comfortable sixth round win over Luke Watkins, retaining his IBF European cruiserweight title and extending his unbeaten record to 15-0.
Zelfa Barrett bounced back from his defeat to Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the vacant IBF super-featherweight title in November with a unanimous decision win over Jason Sanchez.
Barrett's victory puts him in pole position to face the winner of Rakhimov and Joe Cordina later this year.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Barrett knocked Sanchez down on the way to a points win
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Thompson extended his pro record to 15-0
From heaven to hellpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Joe Cordina was on top of the world after beating Kenichi Ogawa to claim the IBF super-featherweight title in June 2022 on home soil, becoming Wales' 13th world champion.
But he was quickly brought crashing back down to earth after a hand injury saw a first defence with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov delayed.
Rakhimov, the IBF's mandatory challenger, had stepped aside to allow the Welshman to fight Ogawa.
Cordina then asked the IBF for a second medical extension in September and was subsquently stripped of his belt.
Cordina, undefeated in 15 fights, admits he considered walking away from the sport when he learned he would need hand surgery.
"There was a time when I was in a bad place," Cordina said.
"I thought 'forget this, I might as well pack it in'. When I had my injury to my metacarpal, it took 18-months to heal.
"I thought that if it was going to be like that again, there would be no point in carrying on.
"But I spoke to the surgeon and he said it would be three months and then I would be punching again. We moved on then."
Read more here.
Image source, Getty ImagesWelcome along!published at 21:00 British Summer Time 22 April 2023
Strap yourselves in for a fun-filled night....hopefully!
We've got two world titles on the line in Cardiff.
Joe Cordina is back in action, 10 months on from his last trip to the ring, as he looks to reclaim the IBF super-featherweight title against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.
Can the Welshman deliver in front of a home crowd at the Cardiff International Arena?
England's Sandy Ryan is also seeking gold when she takes on Canada's Marie-Pier Houle for the vacant WBO welterweight title in the co-main event.
Image source, Matchroom Boxing