MASTER OF HIS ART

Cordina aiming to make a killing on the canvas

- CHRIS MCKENNA

JOE CORDINA is usually avoiding the canvas – but he’s been collecting them to ensure he’s drawing a big pension when he retires from boxing.

The Welsh fighter looks to become a two-time world champion when he faces Shavkat Rakhimov for his old IBF superfeatherweight crown tonight in Cardiff.

Cordina, 31, is back after a hand injury as he looks to regain the belt which was stripped from him over inactivity.

But in between training sessions, the Rio Olympian has been perusing art in Mayfair and Marylebone shops, which is not a usual hobby for fighters.

Cordina said: “Funnily enough I was in Marylebone doing my strength and conditioning and I went into the art shop and the guy was like, ‘You’re that boxer aren’t you?’

“I said, “Yeah I have a go’ and he went ‘Joe?’ and he went, ‘yeah’ so I started talking to him about the art.”