THERE was an unsettling, awkward feeling ringside in May when IBO super-featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace ended a year-long layoff by inflicting Joe Cordina’s first professional defeat via eighth-round stoppage.
The manner of this painful loss was hard for the Welshman to take, especially seeing how the Irish southpaw’s career has progressed since, though many observers would argue this felt inevitable – even if the opponent wasn’t an American or Mexican star in a headliner on US soil as it could well have been.
Cordina, who turned 33 on December 1, had long been linked with a Shakur Stevenson unification clash while both held titles at 130lbs. His scintillating second-round knockout win over Kenichi Ogawa should’ve been a sign of things to come, yet a hand injury and gruelling 12-round wins over Shavkat Rakhimov and Edward Vasquez a year later suggested otherwise.
It was time to move up. Yet a lucrative offer he couldn’t refuse to box on the Fury-Usyk 1 undercard arrived and well, lax officiating by referee Bob Williams in mid-May set the wheels in motion for a damaging loss that has seen him lose leverage at precisely the juncture he needed it most.
Armed with a new coaching team headed by Ben Davison, Turki Alalshikh thrust him back into the limelight with an impromptu lightweight world title shot against WBC titleholder Stevenson for the Beterbiev-Bivol bill in October – a quick turnaround for Eddie Hearn’s latest acquisition after an underwhelming championship defence against Artem Harutyunyan.
A month out, the 27-year-old southpaw withdrew after sustaining ligament tears in his right hand that required surgery to fix. Just like Cordina two years prior, a spell on the sidelines beckoned and plans for both had to change.
While the frustration at missing out has since dissipated, Cordina has been staying ready in anticipation of some much-needed fight news. At the time of his conversation with Boxing News before Friday’s weigh-in, he was optimistic about what 2025 will bring.
“I’m in a good place training, staying active in the gym and waiting for a date – an opportunity will arise. I spoke to Spencer Brown [his manager, advisor] earlier today, he said there’s a bit of news so fingers crossed, I’ll catch him after [the weigh-in] and see what’s next.”
On how he stays centred and can rebuild mentally to focus on becoming a three-time world champion, Cordina revealed family are now his driving force.
“For me, I’ve achieved everything I want to accolade wise. The next thing is to secure my family’s future and I haven’t quite done that yet, so I must keep pushing and do that. I’ve got a wife and three kids, don’t want to finish boxing and need another job, want money behind me where I can go invest it right and make it work for me. The next couple fights will help me achieve that.”
In the last six weeks at lightweight, we’ve seen a series of needle-moving results nearer the top. Keyshawn Davis scored a second-round knockout win over Gustavo Lemos, William Zepeda climbed off the canvas to edge a split decision nod against Tevin Farmer while Sam Noakes (#3 WBO) astutely outpointed Ryan Walsh on British soil.
Cordina’s of the opinion plenty within the division have world champion potential, even if they’re not quite there yet. “There’s a lot of good fighters around, guys below the top crop are capable. Obviously big names will fight one another for big money, everyone wants to get on shows like these [Usyk-Fury 2], I’m part of that talent now, just can’t wait to get into the mix and active again.”
When asked who he thinks is currently the best lightweight, there was only one answer.
“You’d have to say Gervonta Davis, probably the most avoided too. Everyone wants to fight him but for massive money, when it’s a sensible fight purse they don’t want that because they know the money is ridiculous, they’ll never see it again. It’s like burning a candle at both ends with that, don’t want to fight him but also do… knowing you’ll get financially secure afterwards.”
Davis made headlines earlier this month after revealing a willingness to have three fights in 2025 before hanging up the gloves for good, having been in the sport far long enough to be aware of how it’s negatively impacting his peace and sanity outside the ring as a father and human being.
If you’ve read anything related to Cordina, you’d know how highly he rates Stevenson. Former lightweight titlists Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez have both since moved up, while IBF champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (36) could be nearing retirement next year too. So, who could be the next king?
Fresh from his Norfolk homecoming, Keyshawn (12-0, 8 KOs) is slated to box Lomachenko’s compatriot and WBO titleholder Denys Berinchyk on February 14. He already has a ready-made rival in Cuba’s Andy Cruz from their amateur days, though at 25 and getting the Top Rank/ESPN promotional push, there’s no reason why he can’t become what they’d hoped Stevenson would.
“Keyshawn very well could, he’s very talented but we’ll have to wait and see. He’s got to do his bit on Feb. 14 and then – assuming he wins – see how he defends [the title], that will determine how good he actually is. He hasn’t put a foot wrong yet so you’ve got to rate that.”
