Cordina Retains His IBF Super-Featherweight Title, Beats Vazquez Via A MD

November 15, 2023
1 year

In today’s boxing news, Joe Cordina overcame a spirited Edward Vazquez to win a majority decision to retain his IBF super-featherweight title.

The Welshman had a lot of pressure coming into the bout, given that it was the first time he was defending his belt. In the first round, Cordina started well as the boxer’s jab was setting up hooks to Vazquez’s body.

Cordina Starts Well

As the latter sought to return in kind, Cordina countered with a right hand over the top in what was a solid opening round for the champion.

Vazquez was not deterred as he continued to come forward in round two, as Cordina began to exchange on the inside. However, the challenger had some success, landing a right-hand uppercut and a left hook in a much better round.

Cordina, in response, sought to lengthen the distance to fight just out of range as Vazquez continued to press forward. It resulted in some success with Cordina landing a big uppercut in the fourth.

Vazquez Responds

At the halfway stage, Cordina’s gum shield fell out as the champion knew he was in a fight. Vazquez’s confidence began to grow, but Cordina responded in the seventh with numerous combinations from behind his jab.

However, Vazquez pushed back with left hooks to the body in an impressive tenth round. As the fight entered the latter stages, both men threw a flurry of punches until the final bell.

According to CompuBox, Cordina landed 170 punches compared to Vazquez’s 164. The bout went to the scorecards as follows: 116-112, 116-112 and 114-114.

Moving forward, Cordina could face Leigh Wood following the latter’s impressive win over Josh Warrington as he defended his WBA featherweight belt as he may move up.

Meanwhile, fights against Emanuel Navarette or O’Shaquie Foster could also emerge in what would be big unification fights.

Regardless of who he faces, Eddie Hearn confirmed that Cordina was in the conversation for some of those big fights moving forward.

Hearn On Cordina

“Listen, Vazquez will very hard done by it. He had a very close fight with Raymond Ford and had a close fight with Joe Cordina. That’s two decisions that possibly could have done his way, but tonight, I felt that Joe edged the fight as the champion defending. I think you’re going to see the best out of him in those big challenges.

“No disrespect to Vazquez, but the likes of Leigh Wood, the likes of O’Shaquie Foster, but you have to be better in those fights. Sometimes you come off the back of two fantastic performances [by Cordina] against [Kenichi] Ogawa & [Shavkat] Rakhimov. I still thought it was a good performance [by Cordina].

“Vazquez was very good, and we knew that coming into this fight. “Now, I think it’s time to test himself at this stage of his career and take those big moments. Brilliant fight, and brilliant moment, and a real close one tonight. I believe every champion should try and unify the division, and I think Joe Cordina is no different. I believe he can beat everybody,” Hearn

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