FORMER world champion Joe Cordina ended an extended ring exodus that rolls back to May 2024 by outlasting game Mexican Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz over 10 rounds. Cordina recorded a unanimous victory by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92, respectively.
Arriving sporting a puncher’s record, Quiroz’s early finishes had come at a certain level. The sole loss of his 18-fight slate told the true story. The Monterrey man looked smaller as well and unlikely to cause the kind of upset associated with Mexican imports to UK shores.
Cordina looked like the boss whenever his jab came out to play. Quiroz’s early round efforts caused the most concern. Once he started to tire and Cordina settled into a rhythmic pattern, there were levels on display.
Cordina opened up too much in round five and was caught by a whipping left hook that wobbled the Welshman briefly. Quiroz piled it on and went back to his corner, holding his ribcage, either from body shots or overexertion.
Quiroz’s fast paws caught Cordina out again in round seven with another buzzing combination. The former Olympian had the class to outbox his fizzing foe safely but opted to give him left-hook opportunities.
Quiroz was backing up and looking ragged by the close of that same seventh session as the bell helped the Mexican to survive. Cordina used his boxing brain and skills to prevail, landing accurate shots across most of the final rounds.
Picking up the vacant WBO Global lightweight title, Joe Cordina is now 18-1 (9 KOs), while Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz falls to 17-2 (13 KOs). Marcus McDonnell refereed the contest that was feisty but never descended into dirty deeds.
“I enjoyed it, I needed something like that, 10 rounds,” said Cordina, now campaigning at lightweight.
“I wasn’t able to take him lightly because of his knockout ratio. My timing was way off.”
“He’s one of the most talented fighters in Britain, I’d say,” added new trainer Gary Lockett.
“It was a good 10 rounds. I preferred him to get the 10 rounds rather than knocking him out in two or three rounds.”
Eddie Hearn wants Cordina to get into position to challenge the winner of the upcoming Abdullah Mason-Sam Noakes fight and become a two-division world champion. A bigger fight first, later in the year, is expected next for Cordina.
