Zelfa Barrett Sets Sights On World Title Fight With Joe Cordina After Stopping Jordan Gill
British super-featherweight prospect Zelfa Barrett is hopeful his next fight will be for a world title after his impressive knockout of Jordan Gill on Saturday.
Barrett (31-2-0 17 KO) secured his third straight victory in style, dropping Gill twice with body shots in the 10th round to end the contest. Up to that point, it was a close and competitive bout; by the time the fight ended, Barrett was narrowly ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards (88-85, 86-85) and up 88-84 on the third.
“I didn’t expect Jordan to be that good,” Barrett said. “He performed good and I had to think. I was cruising and then he started winning a few rounds but I wasn’t tired or anything. I asked my Uncle P, ‘Am I winning?’ he’s like, ‘It’s close’ so I thought, ‘You know what, I’ve been in his position before, you’ve got to push the pace.’”
The 30-year-old from Manchester has fought once before for a world title, accepting a late call-up to face Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the vacant IBF super-featherweight belt in November 2021 when champion Joe Cordina was forced to withdraw with a hand injury.
Cordina The Top Target
Barrett started that bout well but ultimately faded before Rakhimov clinched a ninth-round stoppage victory. Cordina has since reclaimed the IBF strap from Rakhimov when he defeated the Tajikistani fighter via split decision last year, and the Welshman is Barrett’s top target.
“Of course,” Barrett said when asked if he was interested in a bout with Cordina. “We’re both Matchroom fighters. He’s a good fighter, I’m a good fighter. We’ve got similar styles.
“That would be a serious fight but I understand the situation. He’s a world champion and he wants to look after his family now. I get it. He’s worked all his life to get to where he is now and wants to get paid.
“I’m just ready for anything. If Eddie says this guy, then it’s this guy, Eddie says that guy then it’s that guy. Whoever’s got the belt, I’ll fight. It doesn’t matter what style it is, we’ll just adapt to it.”
Should a bout with Cordina, who defends his title next month against Anthony Cacace, not materialize next, Barrett could take aim at the other world champions, WBC title holder O’Shaquie Foster and WBC king Lamont Roach. The WBO belt is held by Emmanuel Navarrete, who is set to face interim champion Oscar Valdez.
Hearn Backs Barrett Against The Best
“Hopefully it’s a world title fight next,” Barrett said. We’ll see what [promoter] Eddie [Hearn] comes with. I’m ready. I had a good fight with Jordan and he was coming off a good win.
“He had a good, long distance to get ready to fight me and he had a good camp so I beat a good fighter. I believe I’m a world class fighter.”
Matchroom promoter Hearn has all but assured Barrett that his next fight will be for a world title, and believes ‘The Brown Flash’ has the skills to trouble the best fighters at 130lbs.
“It’s just the beginning and now we want to bring the likes of Lamont Roach,” Hearn said. “I know he [Barrett] is chasing Joe Cordina – he is defending soon as well.
“But anybody who has a strap at 130 pounds, I believe he has more than earned the right and I believe he can beat them and I believe he will become world champion.”
