MONACO — In Monte Carlo, Joe Cordina defeated Edward Vazquez by majority decision to keep his IBF super-featherweight title.
At the renowned Casino de Monte Carlo, 31 year old Welsh hero Joe Cordina(17-0, 9 KOs) from Cardiff, won with 116–112, 116–112, and 114–114 scores.
Cordina began to establish his own range and became more at ease dealing with the American as he delivered multiple body blows and showed patience while trying to use his jab to keep Vazquez at a safe distance.
“He’s tricky and he’s clever,” said Cordina in media reports.
“I had to track him down and work him out. Going into the 10th, my trainer told me it was level. I didn’t box to my best, but I still think I did enough to win. There are no marks on my face, but there are marks on his,” said Cordina.
“I didn’t perform to my best, and he couldn’t beat me on my worst night, and he’s a sore loser,” he added.
In his first effort at a world title, Edward Vazquez (15-2, 3 KOs),28 from Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. looked like he belonged at this level and maintained consistent pressure throughout. Vazquez never retreated from the fight, but Cordina only had limited periods of control thanks to his jab.
When Vazquez learned the judges’ scores, he gave a middle finger, insisting he should have won.
“I will be back,” said Edward Vazquez in media reports.
“He wasn’t able to do what he wanted to, he had no power, he couldn’t land his right hand or left hook, and all the others at 130 pounds will walk through him,” he added.
As the fight neared its conclusion, Cordina was satisfied to continue manipulating the pace of the match with his body and head jabs.
Vazquez, who had suffered a cut just above his left eye in the eleventh round, launched an attack in the final round, but neither fighter was able to finish within the distance.
It is now anticipated that Joe Cordina would target a rematch with WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster or an all-British bout against Leigh Wood, who is expected to step up a category after defeating Josh Warrington and give up his WBA championship.
