British/Welsh fighter Joe Cordina successfully defended his IBF super featherweight title with a majority decision victory over Mexican contender Edward Vazquez. The two fighters went the distance in their bout at the Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco on Saturday, November 4th.
The fight proved to be a challenging one for both super featherweights. Joe Cordina (17-0, 9 KO’s) and Edward Vazquez (15-2, 3 KO’s) had contrasting styles that led to a clash of wills. Vazquez, as a Mexican fighter, favored an aggressive, pressure-based approach, while Cordina aimed to box from a distance.
Neither fighter managed to convincingly take control of the match, resulting in the eventual majority decision (MD) at the fight’s conclusion. With both fighters finding success with their approaches, they frequently split rounds, with Cordina holding a slight advantage due to his higher activity.
Cordina particularly had the upper hand in the earlier rounds, primarily through his jabs. However, as the fight progressed, Vazquez’s pressure tactics began to pay off, and Cordina’s jabs became less effective despite his increased output.
Vazquez’s power punches were not absent, as his style allowed for the landing of harder blows, but Cordina seemed to have more success in this regard.
While arguments could be made for both fighters winning, Cordina was ultimately the more efficient fighter and secured the majority decision victory after all twelve rounds.
Both Joe Cordina and Edward Vazquez delivered commendable performances, with their activity intensifying in the later rounds, resulting in a truly competitive match. This bout was reminiscent of another super featherweight contest that took place just last week when O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 12 KO’s) defended his WBC title against Eduardo Hernandez (34-2, 31 KO’s).
The Matchroom fight card in Monaco also featured several interesting bouts. French welterweight contender Souleymane Cissokho (17-0, 9 KO’s) maintained his unbeaten record with a unanimous decision (UD) victory over Mexican fighter Isaias Lucero (16-2, 10 KO’s), advancing his position in the welterweight rankings.
Female super bantamweights British fighter Ramla Ali (9-1, 2 KO’s) and Mexican contender Julissa Alejandra Guzman (13-3-2, 7 KO’s) faced each other once again, following their last encounter on June 17th. During their previous bout, Guzman emerged victorious by knocking out Ali in the eighth round of their ten-round match.
This time around, it was Ramla Ali who secured the victory with a UD, effectively employing her boxing skills to earn a clear decision. This marked a triumphant moment for the British fighter, who had to recover from a near-career-ending knockout loss to Guzman and came back as the victor last Saturday.
A third fight might be on the horizon between the two super bantamweights, as they now have a 1-1 record against each other. However, there is no indication yet as to whether this trilogy will occur in the near or distant future. Both fighters may choose to focus on their respective careers and aim to become world champions in their own right before deciding the definitive winner between them.
One of the most notable matches featured junior flyweights South African champion Sivenathi Nontshinga (12-1, 9 KO’s) and Mexican contender Adrien Curiel (24-4-1, 5 KO’s). Curiel caused a significant upset in the division by defeating the then-IBF world champion Nontshinga in just two rounds.
The outcome was entirely unexpected, as Nontshinga had been an undefeated world champion before facing Curiel and suffered a devastating knockout loss in the second round. The surprise lay in Nontshinga’s apparent dominance throughout the two rounds before Curiel delivered a stunning right hand approximately one minute into the second round.
Nontshinga was knocked out cold, and Curiel claimed the IBF junior flyweight title as a result. Nontshinga’s loss was a devastating experience for the South African champion, as he was widely expected to win. However, Curiel displayed a moment of brilliance with his exceptional right hand, earning him a world title.
Just like super bantamweight fighter Ramla Ali, who experienced an unexpected knockout loss in her initial encounter with Julissa Guzman, Nontshinga may have a rematch clause that would allow him to face Curiel once more. This possibility is further strengthened since he held a world championship title. Similar to Ali, there is a good chance that Nontshinga will have the opportunity to revive his career in a future rematch with Adrien Curiel who has now dawned as a surprising world champion at 108 lbs, and will be considered a genuine threat to any of the other champions and contenders within the division.
