THE final time Joe Cordina boxed in Monte Carlo it got here on the finish of a comparatively busy yr by the Welshman’s requirements, but would, unbeknown to him, be adopted by a 16-month layoff.
His opponent that evening was Mario Enrique Tinoco, whom he outpointed over 10 rounds, and what lurked across the nook, in the meantime, was a worldwide pandemic, in addition to some accidents which have, it’s true, sadly plagued Cordina all through his skilled profession.
Now, although, he seems very a lot on the mend and due to this fact returns to Monte Carlo on Saturday (November 4) not solely energetic however as the present IBF super-featherweight belt-holder. That was a belt he picked up in 2022 when knocking out inside two rounds Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa with arguably the best punch thrown that yr. It was then defended efficiently for the primary time in April, when edging Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in a gruelling 12-round affair, once more in Cardiff.
It maybe stands to motive, then, that following what had been, on paper, two tough assignments for Cordina, he will get a considerably simpler one this Saturday in Monte Carlo. That’s to not say his subsequent opponent, Edward Vazquez, comes missing a menace, in fact, however definitely, when in comparison with Ogawa and Rakhimov, he’s a boxer with out their expertise, their repute, and certainly the identical degree of hazard.
A professional since 2016, Vazquez, from Fort Worth, Texas, has compiled a record of 15-1 (3) combating throughout America, typically in aggressive fights towards fellow prospects. This, one would assume, has sufficiently toughened and readied him for this step-up, but sometimes in these conditions it is just at this level, when ultimately stepping up, we discover out the true potential of a fighter like Vazquez. So far we will collect, primarily based on his record and the very nature of his wins, that he’s not an enormous puncher, however in fact that doesn’t imply he received’t have the ability to harm Cordina; maybe, in any case, the explanation for Vazquez’s shortage of stoppages – with out one in his final 5 fights – has as a lot to do with him being in the ring with hungry opponents because it does any deficiency on his half.
Either method, whereas not going through the crème de la crème of the super-featherweight division, Vazquez has not less than been testing himself towards males with some ambition just lately. These embody Brayan De Gracia, whom he outpointed in July, in addition to Misael Lopez and Viktor Slavinskyi. That every of those fights ended up being shut perhaps signifies Vazquez’s ceiling isn’t a lot increased than the place he’s at the moment working, however nonetheless, he comes into this battle towards Cordina on a profitable run and, simply as vital, has been energetic of late.
Most of Vazquez’s fights, in truth, seem to have been shut – whether or not fights he in the end received or, in the case of a 2022 bout towards Raymond Ford, ones he misplaced. That, the one blip up to now in his 16-fight professional profession, was a cut up resolution, and Ford since then has gone on to beat Jessie Magdaleno, the previous WBO super-bantamweight belt-holder, which suggests shedding towards him wasn’t the worst consequence in the world.
Still, as a lot as Vazquez is clearly creating and, as a lot as he’ll arrive in Monte Carlo with plenty of ambition, it’s onerous to see something apart from a Cordina win this weekend. He is, with out query, the faster and extra highly effective of the 2 and, what’s extra, for perhaps the primary time in the Cardiff man’s profession there’s now an actual sense of momentum and urgency, which is one thing he has each needed and wanted for a while. It would possibly go lengthy, and even go the complete 12 rounds, however Cordina, 16-0 (9), needs to be a dominant winner right here all the identical.
Down at light-flyweight, IBF belt-holder Sivenathi Nontshinga, from South Africa, will defend his title towards Adrian Curiel, from Mexico.
This would be the second defence for Nontshinga, who received the title when outpointing one other Mexican, Hector Flores Calixto, over 12 rounds in September 2022. Since then, the person from Reeston, often called “Special One” and 12-0 (9) has a professional, has additionally outpointed Regie Suganob, a Filipino he fought at house in South Africa in July.
As for Curiel, in the meantime, whose record stands at 23-4-1 (3), this shot towards Nontshinga represents his first problem for world honours having fought completely in Mexico.
Also on the Monte Carlo present, French welterweight Souleymane Cissokho, 16-0 (9), fights one other Mexican who has but to battle outdoors his homeland in the type of Isaias Lucero, 16-1 (10).
Now 32, Cissokho stays a proficient prospect and embellished beginner (bronze medallist on the 2016 Olympics) who is aware of how vital it’s to begin making inroads in his professional profession. Since scraping by Britain’s Kieron Conway by way of cut up resolution in 2021, he has crushed Ismail Iliev (RTD 4), Roberto Valenzuela Jr (UD 10), and, final trip, Tulani Mbenge (UD 10). He ought to due to this fact haven’t any issues coping with Lucero, an aggressive kind who in his final battle was outscored by Chester Parada Torales in Los Cabos.
Finally, in the ladies’s super-bantamweight division, there is a chance for Ramla Ali, 8-1 (2), to actual revenge on Julissa Alejandra Guzman, the opponent who dramatically knocked her out in June. That might be simpler stated than carried out, nonetheless, given the convenience with which Guzman, 13-2-2 (7), appeared to harm Ali every time she landed something clear on her, significantly in rounds 5 and eight, the spherical in which the battle ultimately ended. Then once more, having to date had issues all her personal method as a professional, perhaps a take a look at like this, with a lot at stake and a lot jeopardy concerned, is strictly what Ali wants at this stage of her fledgling profession to place all of it collectively and present what she will do.
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