By Robert Segal: Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 KOs) weighed in at 129.9 lbs at Friday’s weigh-in for the title defense of his IBF super featherweight belt against Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KOs), who came in at 128.8 lbs for their main event contest this Saturday night on November 4th at the Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo. The event will be shown on DAZN.
(Photo credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
The 5’9″ Cordina towered over his shorter 5’6″ opponent, Vazquez, who is moving up from featherweight to challenge him for his IBF 130-lb title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t mention why Cordina isn’t fighting a proper super featherweight opponent rather than a smaller, weaker Vazquez, but perhaps the idea is to give the Wales native a nice run-out job after his grueling twelve round war against Shavkat Rakhimov last April.
Cordina had problems with Rakhimov’s high-volume punching, which overwhelmed his habit of loading up on single shots. If not for Corfina finishing strong and, of course, fighting at him, he might have lost that fight.
If Cordina wins this fight, Hearn wants to match him against WBC 130-lb champion O’Shaquie Foster next in a unification clash at super featherweight.
Foster is coming off a tough come from behind twelfth round knockout win over Rocky Hernandez last Saturday night, and he barely pulled it off by the skin of his feet in the last round.
If Cordina wins that fight, he plans on sticking around for perhaps one or a contest, possibly against Leigh Wood or Emanuel Navarrete if either guy is interested in fighting him. If not, he’ll move up to lightweight to seek out bigger and better opponents.
The paydays will be much better for Cordina at 135 than they’ve been at 130, provided that Hearn can set him up with the mouth-watering fights against Shakur Stevenson, Vasily Lomachenko, and Gervonta Davis.
“You always get the haters that say, ‘Look, it’s 300 people.’ It’s called a site fee at one of the prestigious casinos in the world in front of royalty and high roller guests,’ said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV about this Saturday’s Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vazquez card in Monte Carlo.
“This is a very, very different event. There are four championship fights on Saturday with a really, really good card. There’s a lot of buzz around the Ramla Ali rematch. [Souleymane] Cissokho is in a good fight. Look out for Sivenathi Nontshinga against Curiel. It’s going to be an absolute war.
“I think Joe Cordina has got a real tough fight on his hands [against Edward Vazquez],” said Hearn.
“Seeing what Joe does what he does. He’s a performance, and that’s what he does,” said Conor Benn to Matchroom Boxing, talking about Joe Cordina. “We’re all on the same goals. Watching what Joe does and what he does, he’s just a special fighter, isn’t he?
“I might be very biased, but I think he [Cordina] knocks him [Vazquez] out in four rounds. He’s too slow. Joe is just a sharpshooter, and he really don’t miss.
“When he comes at them, they won’t know what hit them. He’s so quick, sharp, accurate, and there’s that spitefulness in the shot. Maybe not thudding power, but he’s just got the spitefulness in the shot that sends them over.”
“Do you think his size difference will play a part?” said Darren Barker about the 5’9″ Cordina’s height advantage over the 5’6″ Vazquez.
“Of course, the size difference plays a part,” said Benn. “This is Vazquez’s first fight at 130. I don’t think this guy is Rakhimov. Joe will do what he wants with him at will.
“That was the worth ethic, and I believe what you do early on in your career plays a part in your career towards the end of your career. Joe really lives the life. He’s about this game. A lot of people talk about this life. No stone unturned.
“You know how [trainer] Tony works. He pushes you to the brink. Right now, I’m on another mission. I just want to get out. I don’t care who it is. The reality is, that I’ve missed so much time this year. It’s about getting whoever. Whoever they put in front of me, no problem, I’ll deal with it. No nerves. When you’ve dealt with what I’ve been through, it gives you nothing but resilience and strength,” said Benn.