IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina has expressed his willingness to vacate his title and move up to lightweight if a unification bout does not materialize after his upcoming title defense against Anthony Cacace. Scheduled to fight on February 17 on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Cordina’s bout was postponed to May 18 due to Fury’s injury.
In a conversation with BBC Radio Wales Sport, Cordina shared his frustrations over the delay and the challenges of restarting his training camp. Despite the setback, he remains focused on maintaining his condition and avoiding distractions.
Cordina, who reclaimed the IBF title in April last year in Cardiff against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in a bout celebrated as a Fight of the Year contender, views the fight with Cacace as a necessary step, albeit not the one he or the fans primarily anticipated. The former Olympian has been actively seeking a unification fight with other titleholders but to no avail.
“Anthony Cacace is a bit of a frustrating fight for me, even though I am getting paid very well. It’s a good fight – but it’s not the fight people probably wanted or expected,” Cordina explained, highlighting his appreciation for being part of a significant boxing event but underscoring his ambition for greater challenges.
Cordina's decision to consider moving up in weight class reflects his desire for more prominent, lucrative bouts and his acknowledgment of the fleeting nature of an athlete’s prime years. “If I can't get a unification fight in my next fight, I will look to go up a weight. I am not getting any younger, and the big money fights are at the weight above me,” he stated.
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