Former British and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion, ‘The Welsh Wizard’ Joe Cordina (14-0) will challenge newly-crowned Champion Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa (26-1-1) for his IBF Super Featherweight World Title in early June at the Motorpoint Arena in Cordina’s hometown of Cardiff, Wales Live on DAZN.
Cordina, a 2016 Olympian and decorated amateur, turned professional with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and now five years later he gets his shot at the world title. Ogawa, also with Matchroom, scored two knockdowns to outpoint South Africa’s Azinga Fuzile for the vacant title last November on the Teofimo Lopez – George Kambosos undercard on DAZN.
After clearing up domestically at 135, Cordina opted to go down to 130 in late 2019 and since then has stacked up to four wins still around the domestic level.
He will take a big leap up to the world level with no real middle fights. Trainer Tony Sims is confident in his charge’s ability and claims Cordina’s 200+ Amateur fight pedigree means there is no need for a middle fight and Cordina is ready now.
Coming off an active 2021 with three wins, Joe Cordina will need to put up a career-best display to dethrone Ogawa and for the first time in his career will be going in as the underdog. He will have local support and home advantage though, but since this is a voluntary defence, there is a chance there could be a rematch clause.
Fellow Matchroom Super Featherweight, Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett (27-1) is the #2 ranked fighter with the IBF and there is a strong possibility he could be the first voluntary defence for Cordina should he win due to his promotional alliance. Cordina-Barrett is a major domestic fight in Cardiff or Manchester and that is what DAZN need.
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