Joe Cordina is Ready to Go Twelve Hard Rounds with Kenichi Ogawa
Undefeated junior lightweight contender Joe Cordina (14-0, 8KOs) is fully prepared to take on IBF champion Kenichi Ogawa (26-1-1, 18KOs). This is the moment that the fighter from Cardiff, Wales has been waiting on. Furthermore, he believes having home-field advantage could work in his favor.
RELATED: Kenichi Ogawa To Joe Cordina: “I Will Be The One To Win This Fight”
THE JOURNEY TOWARD THE TITLE
Cordina has been on the fast-track since entering the professional ranks after having a well-accomplished amateur career. He won the Bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and he took the Gold medal in the European Championships in 2015, both as a lightweight. Moreover, he qualified as a lightweight for the 2016 Olympic games.
So it should come as no surprise that Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn came knocking to sign Cordina in 2017. After six fights, he would step it up and win the WBA International title. Next, Cordina dominated the domestic level by winning the Commonwealth and the BBBofC British lightweight titles.
In 2019, He decided to go down in weight for glory in the junior lightweight division. This move has paid off as he immediately won the WBA Continental title with ease against the-undefeated Gavin Gwynne in August 2019. He continued winning, climbing up the IBF ranks to claim the number three spot, earning him the upcoming title shot.
THE CHALLENGER IS READY AND PREPARED
Cordina understands that this is a major step up in class fighting Ogawa. During an interview with Boxing Social, he expressed how training camp has been different physically.
“I don’t feel different in my mindset and what I’m doing because I try and hit every training camp the same and try to give it everything. But training’s been a lot harder. It’s been a lot more intense. Tony’s pushed me to my limits […] that’s what we get in camp for, sort of prepare ourselves for a hard twelve rounds, if need be. But, yeah, it didn’t feel, no different mentally. But physically, yeah.”
Cordina believes that having the home crowd behind him in droves could rattle the IBF champion.
“I think the crowd, he’s not going to experience something like that […] I don’t think he’s boxed in a country where the whole crowd is against him. He boxed in America, yeah, but he was on neutral ground for both. And then I think the rest of his fights were in Asia. Yeah, it’s going to be a new experience for him.”
Fans can catch all the action live on DAZN at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales June 4.
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By: Garrisson Bland
