Joe Cordina continues to crave big fights but knows Cacace is not a “walkover”

EVERY British world champion has a dream list of fighting in Las Vegas or at a famous venue like Madison Square Garden.

Joe Cordina is one. Winning the IBF super-featherweight world title in April last year over Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov was another memorable night for Welsh boxing. Those inside the Cardiff International Arena were in full voice and carried their man through the storm that Rakhimov brought during the Fight of the Year competition.

Cordina, 17-0 (9 KOs) maintained the best performance of his career on his big night and was a deserving winner. But his second reign as champion didn't feature the kind of high-profile fight that could make headlines Stateside.

“I thought it would be really easy [to fight in America] He once won the world title but it is not as easy as I thought. It is difficult to put them in the ring,” he said.

“They always want hard money and others overestimate. That is up to the organizers to make sure that that happens but so far we have not been able to do that.”

Cordina spoke to him Debate News in the heat and humidity of another Riyadh fighting week. Other attractions in the heavyweight division are in the middle and none come bigger than the undisputed rivalry between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Seated in support is Anthony 'The Apache' Cacace of Cordina and Belfast, 21-1-1 (7 Kos) who is the second man, behind Edward Vazquez, to try to take the title from Cordina.

Cacace is not the rival Cordina wants to change her family's future. This is the main objective of the champion who wants to ensure that when he is gone there will be no financial worries for his partner and children. Vazquez is one that didn't get the blood of a champion and he almost paid a high price for it as well, as he admitted. BN“I made a few bad decisions that showed in my performance.”

So, what are his thoughts on Cacace?

“I watched him because he punched my stable mate, Martin J Ward. Martin beat him, so I've been watching him.

“He is a good fighter, he works well with his feet, he is smart, he doesn't listen [and] he is someone I will not take lightly. I can't go in there thinking this is going to be an uphill battle because he wasn't at a high level. He's a guy who's got his teeth into it and he wants to win the world title but he's in the same situation as me. If we don't win this war, what's next? My whole thing is to protect my family's future and he is the one in my way to do that. We are both in the same situation.”

The super-featherweight arena is currently not blessed with the talent to see Cordina's name in bright lights on the Vegas strip. O'Shaquie Foster (WBC champion) and Lamont Roach (WBA) are talented men but the Welshman will have to lure them to the UK due to their lack of draw in the pool.

Meanwhile, Mexican favorite Emanuel Navarrete moves up to lightweight for a shot at the vacant WBO belt on Saturday night in San Diego against Denys Berinchyk.

Former champion Oscar Valdez got his mojo from Liam Wilson and the interim WBO holder could be promoted to full weight if his former opponent stays at lightweight. But, regardless, Cordina is tired of hearing words and nothing in sight.

Then there's the 'dusting off' home option of featherweights turned super-featherweights Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington.

“They don't really like me, but if the money is there, yes. I prefer to fight for titles or big names in the world but as long as the money is there, there is no problem.”

If Cordina is looking for the big names then her time at 130lbs may be coming to an end. The lightweight division is busy and if Navarette likes his new home he joins Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Vasyl Lomachenko as title holders and supporting players including William Zepeda, Frank Martin, Arnold Barboza, Gary Cully, Keyshawn Davis, Raymond Muratalla. and more.

“If he [Stevenson] he wants to fight, I'll fight him, it's not a problem,” said Cordina about the undefeated American player.

“I will fight anyone as long as the money is good. That's what it comes down to at the end of the day. I have no time left Shakur. I'm much older than Shakur. For me now it's about making as much money as possible. If the titles are there, take the titles as well as the money but focus on the titles, you want to make history. I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve without protecting the future of my family.”

Cordina will also relish the opportunity to face Lomachenko who is looking to bounce back from his win over George Kambosos Jr last weekend.

“I grew up watching him,” said Cordina.

“All my footwork I did… what made me a good player was because I watched what he did. It would be a great opportunity for me. I love to fight Lomachenko, share the ring with him. I'm not going to share a ring and say, 'Oh yeah, I'm with Lomachenko.'

“I'm going to try to take his chin off but at the same time he's an unbelievable fighter, one of the best fighters ever, he's going to go down as a champion of all time.”