Cordina too close in the ring and on the cards

Cordina wins in Monte Carlo in tougher than expected defence

Welshman Joe Cordina successfully defended his IBF Super Featherweight in Monte Carlo, beating American Edward Vazquez over 12 competitive rounds. It was closely contested, Judge Jeremy Hayes arrived at a 114-114 score which struck this observer as generous but was in keeping with DAZN pundit, and former Cruiserweight champion, Tony Bellew’s card.

Closer than widely anticipated; Cordina made the mistake of not offering Vazquez the space to make his own.

Judges Lane and Dwarte agreed on Cordina winning 8 rounds. It was a difficult fight to assess, within rounds the impetus would ebb and flow but a breakthrough or a period of sustained dominance was never quite accomplished by either man. Cordina boxed in denial of his advantages of reach, power and precision. Electing to fight on the inside and rely on his heavier punches and more varied repertoire to overwhelm Vazquez. It didn’t provide the rewards Cordina presumed it would. The visiting American couldn’t be moved from his own game plan and was unphased in the main by Cordina’s power punches, the left to body and right hand uppercut the pick of those he took.

Cordina’s strategy secured many of the opening rounds but wasn’t quelling the Texan’s resistance or output. Attempts to shift strategy, like a husband lost in a strange town he claimed to know before finally relenting and turning on the SatNav, proved all to fleeting. He returned to the bullying tactics, either motivated to entertain or determined to beat Vazquez in the American’s type of fight, but was caught several times by a lead left hook. Cordina looked more dangerous at middle distance behind the jab. But he didn’t double the jab enough and as a result Vazquez countered at times and was proving equally resourceful and patient. He wasn’t making the expected mistakes because Cordina didn’t offer him the space to.

Only one sustained attack in the fourth offered hope that Cordina could make good on the assumptions of most in attendance, that his superior pedigree would be far too much for the modestly equipped challenger. Vazquez clenched up his defence and rode out the fleeting storm.

And the fight followed this rhythm through the middle rounds and toward the increasingly inevitable Championship rounds distance. Cordina leaving his corner from every rest determined to box from the outside or determined this was the round he would overwhelm Vazquez. The result was a disappointing and disjointed performance and a school of thought grew that Vazquez could get the decision on the cards as reward for his aggression and success. He punched in flurries and though the shots lacked spite or weight, they scored and a number of rounds could be awarded either way subject to perspective.

Vazquez complained loudly at the decision. Narrowly won rounds, and long sequences of them, can lead to wide disparity in scores and a fighter is both the best qualified and least objective in their assessment. Eddie Hearn was willing to state that the 116-112 was too wide, but while those score speak of a dominance Cordina never quite asserted, it is true he won most of the 12 competitive rounds but Vazquez did expose flaws in the Welshman’s performance.

Cordina will need to be significantly improved to beat fellow belt holders Emanuel Navarrete or O’Shaquie Foster but those are the type of challenge he is keen to pursue. On this evidence, the idea he will box Leigh Wood at the City Ground in Nottingham appears more fanciful. Hearn’s Matchroom is unlikely to encourage Cordina to risk that belt in a fight he could lose to a fighter planning to retire. Particularly when they have Josh Warrington to fill the opposite corner to Wood, a fighter with precious few other options.

Perhaps it is a sign of a good champion to win a competitive fight against a determined challenger despite boxing below expectations. Equally, Cordina may be self-aware enough to know he needs the stimulation of a more dangerous foe to deliver the best of himself.

Those dangerous foes will now be greatly encouraged to grant him his wish on the evidence of Saturday night.