As the Welshman longs for future unification fights and big-money bouts to fully maximise the prime of his career, he faces an unheralded IBF super-featherweight world title defence this weekend in the form of Edward Vasquez in Monaco as WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster called for a unification bout this past week after winning a topsy-turvy firefight against Rocky Hernandez.
O’Shaquie Foster makes it clear: let’s unify
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- WBC super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster called out Joe Cordina to unify their world titles during his ringside interview, after recovering from ominous start to score R12 TKO win over Rocky Hernandez in frantic first title defence on enemy soil last weekend
- Cordina has maintained a desire to test his skills in toughest challenges and wants WBO titlist Emanuel Navarrete, though there is clamour from some for Welshman to face WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood in domestic duel next spring should Josh Warrington rematch not happen
- Tony Sims, the 31-year-old’s trainer, said: “It’s all about the money, Joe would fight at the City Ground if it’s there… at this stage of your career, defend your title for the most amount of money, that’s what he’s all about.”
- Sims believes Cordina’s readiness to move back up to lightweight in future is based on big fights rather than an inability to make 130lbs safely
Joe Cordina (c) vs. Edward Vasquez for the IBF world super-featherweight title
Live on DAZN from Casino Salle Medecin, Monte-Carlo
Estimated ringwalks from 10.30pm BST this Saturday
After outboxing Shavkat Rakhimov over twelve thrilling rounds in his Cardiff hometown on April 22, Joe Cordina was clear: he wants to unify the super-featherweight division and make up for lost time after a hand injury last summer.
Now that former unified titlist Shakur Stevenson has since moved up to lightweight, a matchup with the fearsome WBO champion Emanuel Navarrete (38-1, 31 KOs) is one he has been keen on making. Multiple options remain on offer in future, but you know the saying: he must keep winning to satisfy those lucrative ambitions.
Among them, is a unification against WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 12 KOs) following his R12 comeback TKO win over Rocky Hernandez last weekend, just hours after the Fury-Ngannou show ended. Theoretically, it’d be easy to make too.
Foster is currently a promotional free agent, though Matchroom Boxing won the title fight purse bid for his first world championship defence and Eddie Hearn has previously been open about potentially signing the American to a multifight deal.
Foster’s manager Keith Mills told Boxing News they agreed terms in principle, but no contract was ever received. Nonetheless, the 30-year-old will have a vested interest this weekend having vowed to knock Cordina out on enemy soil next year, should he prevail as expected against an unheralded super-featherweight in Vasquez.
“At the end of the day, it’s an easy fight to make – there are no roadblocks on my side. I am still a free agent and have no problems coming to the UK in 2024: mark my words, I am going to knock him out.
He hasn’t impressed me much recently and I think he’s going to have a tough night against Vasquez – we have sparred before and he’s a solid guy.”
Texas’ Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KOs) has won four straight – two were decision victories over eight rounds, and his last two over ten – since losing his unbeaten record by split decision against Raymond Ford in February 2022.
The 28-year-old, currently ranked #51 in the world by BoxRec, outpointed Brayan De Gracia on July 29 to win the IBF’s intercontinental featherweight title and is #9 in the sanctioning body’s world rankings. Cordina could’ve headlined again in Cardiff, though the logistics didn’t work for this date given Matchroom’s upcoming shows.
Matchroom’s finish to 2023
Nov. 11: Newcastle – NXTGN card
Nov. 18: California – Pacheco-Coceres
Nov. 25: Dublin – Cameron-Taylor 2
Dec. 2: Belfast – Conlan-Gill
Dec. 9: California – Prograis-Haney
Dec. 16: Arizona – Bam-Edwards
Dec. 23: Unconfirmed
Picture source: Getty, Ed Mulholland — quotes hyperlinked
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