Written by Sean Crose
Shakur Stevenson, the WBC lightweight champion, is slated to battle Joe Cordina on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed light heavyweight title fight scheduled for October 12th in Saudi Arabia. Stevenson, boasting a 22-0 record, last emerged victorious in July by securing a unanimous decision win against Artem Harutyunyn in Newark. On the other hand, Cordina, with a record of 17-1, faced defeat in May when Anthony Cacace halted his fight in the 8th round. Their upcoming showdown is set for 12 rounds. Turki Alalshikh, a boxing enthusiast, expressed his enthusiasm for Stevenson’s appearance in Saudi Arabia and hinted at a potentially significant future fight for him during an interview with ESPN.
While the Stevenson-Cordina match may not be considered a marquee event, Cordina, aged 32, is a former world champion who previously held the IBF super featherweight title. This will mark Cordina’s return to the ring following his title loss to Cacace earlier this year. Originally lined up to face the up-and-coming star William Zepeda, Stevenson might square off against Zepeda next if he overcomes Cordina. A win for Cordina would elevate him to a prominent position in boxing, while Stevenson is acknowledged as one of the sport’s top talents currently.
Stevenson has encountered criticism for not consistently delivering thrilling performances in the ring, prompting some fans and pundits to desire more excitement from his fights. The impending bout against Cordina will put Stevenson’s ability to engage the audience to the test. The showdown between Beterbiev and Bivol is eagerly awaited by boxing enthusiasts, as both fighters maintain unblemished records and dominance in their weight class. With significant interest surrounding this event, Stevenson must be fully prepared to ward off any potential surprise from Cordina in Riyadh.
