IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina has indicated that his upcoming title defense against Anthony Cacace will be his last fight at 130lbs if a unification fight can’t be agreed afterwards.
Cordina was due to defend his title on February 17 and feature on the bill of the undisputed heavyweight world title clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, after Fury sustained a cut, the undisputed clash was postponed until May 18, meaning Cordina’s clash with Cacace has also been delayed. It will feature as a prominent fight on the undercard.
Speaking to the BBC, Cordina discussed his frustration of having to wait for May 18 to finally return, following his successful title defense in November in Monte Carlo against Edward Vazquez.
“It’s tough when a fight falls through, it was a nightmare,” Cordina told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
“I am plodding along. Obviously I am disappointed that my fight in Saudi was called off due to Tyson Fury’s injury. I am trying to keep busy, keep my mind occupied, and stop myself from veering off and eating rubbish. It’s a bit of a kick in the shins. Now I have to do a horrible camp again. I’ve already done a camp. This was a good one, the best sparring, and now we have to reset and go again.”
Cordina won the IBF title for the second time in his career last April in Cardiff against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in a thrilling Fight of the Year contender, which saw Cordina edge a majority decision win.
The former Olympian concedes that his upcoming fight with Cacace is not the most appealing prospect but added that if he doesn’t get the unification fight following Cacace, he will move up to lightweight.
“Anthony Cacace is a bit of a frustrating fight for me, even though I am getting paid very well. Cacace is a good fight – but it’s not the fight people probably wanted or expected,” Cordina explained.
“But I am grateful to be in a position where I’ll be on a massive show, one of the biggest in history. I was chasing the other title holders, but it hasn’t happened yet. The thing is, 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.
“Cacace is a great fighter but if I beat him and don’t get a unification fight, I don’t want to just keep defending my title.”