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Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez predictions:
- Joe Cordina to win by decision or technical decision – 11/10 with Betfred
- Fight to go the distance – 5/6 with BoyleSports
- Edward Vazquez to throw more punches – 7/4 with bet365
Joe Cordina steps back into the ring on Saturday to defend his IBF world super-featherweight title for the first time since reclaiming the strap in April.
The undefeated Welshman won a gruelling contest against Shavkat Rakhimov via split decision to retake the belt having been forced to relinquish it the year prior.
A hand injury prevented him from defending the title the first time he held it, but he’ll finally get the chance to come to the ring as a world champion against Edward Vazquez on Saturday night.
The fight tops the bill in Monte Carlo, where Vazquez will be looking to pull off a sizeable upset.
Betting sites make Cordina a big odds-on favourite to defeat the American challenger, who only has one loss on his record.
It’s not always easy to know which version of Cordina will turn up, but Vazquez’s style could lead to this being a long night for the defending champion.
Classy Cordina can catch judges’ eye
Cordina improved to 16-0 with his victory over Rakhimov on a night of redemption for the Welsh fighter in front of his home fans in Cardiff.
The 31-year-old had previously been due to face the Tajikistani fighter in November 2022 when he first held the belt, only to be forced to withdraw from the fight with a hand injury.
For being unable to defend the belt, the IBF would decide to strip Cordina of the title he’d won so spectacularly with a second-round knockout of Kenichi Ogawa in June 2022.
Cordina’s second world title fight was a far more gritty affair with Rakhimov putting in a hard-working display, only for the more eye-catching work to come from the challenger.
Cordina’s excellent combinations and speed proved effective, putting Rakhimov down in the second round and opening a nasty cut above his left eye.
Rakhimov enjoyed good spells in the fight though and had it not been in Cardiff, the outcome could have been different.
Vazquez will have taken heart from Rakhimov’s performance after he weathered the early storm from Cordina and held his own. The fight being staged on neutral ground in Monte Carlo also aids the challenger’s cause.
Vazquez is 15-1 in his career and is known for being a tough fighter with a high work rate. However, he lacks power with only three of his wins coming via stoppage, while he’s never previously fought outside of the United States and Mexico.
He’s ninth on the IBF rankings, six spots below Cordina’s last opponent, Rakhimov, and doesn’t appear to pose a major threat.
But having never been stopped in his career and with his high-volume style having the potential to upset Cordina’s rhythm, Vazquez may see the final bell.
Nine of Cordina’s 16 victories have come via the judge’s scorecards, which is how he’s won the majority of his recent fights, and Betfred offer 11/10 on him winning by decision on Saturday.
Tip: Joe Cordina to win by decision or technical decision – 11/10 with Betfred
Vazquez can take it to the wire
It’s not always easy to work out how Cordina fights are going to end given he does pack a punch, as Ogawa will testify.
The Japanese fighter was floored by a rasping right hand and Cordina’s card is littered with early stoppages.
However, after winning six of the first seven fights of his professional career by TKO, the stoppages have become less frequent as the quality of opponent has improved.
Three stoppage wins in his last nine fights suggests Vazquez may maintain his record of never being stopped.
Cordina’s previous fight in Monte Carlo ended in a unanimous decision win over Enrique Tinoco after ten rounds and his return trip may mirror that fight with BoyleSports offering odds of 5/6 the fight goes the distance.
Cordina is hoping to line up a unification bout with a win on Saturday so can’t afford any mistakes and it may be he relies on his superior movement and technical ability, rather than take a chance by standing and exchanging, to win this one.
Challenger to make a good impression
Vazquez has said being the challenger on foreign soil means he needs to approach this fight with the mindset he’s already two rounds behind.
If the American is true to his word, expect him to step up his usually high volume of punches and try to dictate proceeding from the off.
Cordina threw fewer punches than Rakhimov when winning the IBF title and looked comfortable behind his guard defending the majority of blows that came his way.
Vazquez lacks the power to worry Cordina so he may be happy to cover up and pick and choose his moments to unload on the American.
Cordina should produce the better quality punches, while Vazquez will be aiming for volume and is worth considering on new betting sites to throw more more punches in the fight.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
