By Mark Eisner Joe Cordina will defend his IBF super featherweight title tonight against underdog Edward Vasquez in the main event of the Matchroom Promoted Card in Monte Carlo. The event will be televised on DAZN at 3pm ET. This is a great opportunity for Vasquez to upset Cordina (16-0, 9 KOs) and earn a shot at the unified title against Emmanuel Navarrete or Oshakie Foster.
(Photo credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Below are the live boxing results for tonight’s Cordina vs. Vasquez card.
- In a rematch, Ramla Ali (9-1, 2 KOs) defeated Julissa Alejandra Guzman (13-3-2, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision in 10 rounds. The scores were 96-94, 96-94, 96-94. Boxing News 24 mentioned that Guzman landed cleaner and harder shots. Ramula’s performance involved weak jabs, frequent holds, and movement, which made the fight less entertaining compared to their previous encounter in June, where Guzman won by eighth-round knockout. Ramla’s game plan seemed to focus on moving and holding to counteract Guzman’s power, but she struggled to land anything significant besides the jabs. Ramla got away with a hit on the break, but should have had a point deduction.
Cordina (16-0, 9 KOs) needs a strong performance to become a desirable opponent for WBC super featherweight champion Oshakie Foster in a unification fight.
Main card:
Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vasquez
Sivenati Nonzinga vs. Adrian Kriel
Suleymane Sissoko vs. Isaias Lucero
Julissa Guzman vs. Ramla Ali
Many boxing fans believe Edward Vazquez lost a 10-round split decision to Eddie Hearn-promoted fighter Raymond Ford last year, and some argue he should still be undefeated.
Tonight, Vazquez has a great chance to defeat Cordina, who is known for throwing single power shots and always looking for a one-punch knockout.
A spectacular knockout, similar to Cordina’s performance against Kenichi Ogawa last year, would significantly boost his prospects of facing Foster in the future.
Considering his lack of recognition and being promoted by a different network, there is a slim chance that 31-year-old Cordina will face WBO 130-pound champion Emmanuel Navarrete, who is promoted by Top Rank and fights on ESPN.
Even if Cordina surpasses Foster, who struggled in his previous fight against Rocky Hernandez, it is unlikely that he will face Navarrete due to his lack of name recognition in the US, affiliation with Matchroom, and DAZN platform.
Cordina vs Vazquez = 50-50 fight
“When Oshakie Foster defended his cause, I have to say this… When he won the world title in Mexico last week, I said to him, ‘The next unification fight is between you and Cordina,’ and he said, ‘He has to beat Edward Vazquez.’ I know him, I’ve sparred with him, and this is a tough, tough fight, a ’50-50 fight,'” said Eddie Hearn at the final press conference for Cordina vs. Vazquez.
“Based on Cordina’s performance against Shavkat Rakhimov, it’s understandable why Foster sees tonight’s contest as a 50-50 fight.”
Cordina is a solid fighter, but he is vulnerable and not on the same elite level as fighters like Emmanuel Navarrete and Robesy Ramirez in his weight class. However, Cordina is unlikely to face either of them, which works in his favor.
“Joe Cordina is aiming for a big unification fight next year. The stadium fights. But the guy [Vazquez] on my left side, who has dreamt of becoming a world champion, will get that opportunity on Saturday night,” said Eddie Hearn.
“Edward, I was impressed with your interview. Stay calm, cool, collected, and focused on your lifelong dreams on Saturday night.”
“Joe Cordina hasn’t shown anything that suggests he has what it takes to beat me,” said Joe Cordina in response to Edward Vasquez’s comments about his arrogance. “I take it very seriously. Whatever he says, I don’t pay much attention to it. That’s not the case at all.”
“I have never underestimated an opponent. In boxing, anything can happen. I think he might have an early surge, but at the end of the day, my skills will prevail. It’s a big opportunity for him.”
