Joe Cordina will pick up the baton for Welsh sport this weekend when he aims to follow in the footsteps of Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas by bringing another title home to the capital city.
After two appearances on Anthony Joshua bills at the Principality Premiership, Cordina is the main attraction at Cardiff’s Ice Arena Wales on Saturday night when he meets Sean Dodd for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title.
Last time out Cordina beat Hakim Ben Ali on the Joshua-Joseph Parker undercard, taking the vacant WBA International lightweight crown. Ben Ali had an unbeaten record going into that fight, while Birkenhead boxer Dodd has won 15 of his 19 fights to date.
“I can’t wait to be fighting at home once again. Training is going really well – I’ve been in camp for 10 weeks and I couldn’t have asked for better preparation,” said Cordina, who has five knock-outs in his unblemished seen fight record as a pro.
“Dodd has been there and done it, but I think I’ll be too fresh for him. He’s a very hungry fighter and I know I’m not going to have it easy, but he’s not going to have it easy against me, either.
“It’s going to be a very good fight. Whilst it was great boxing on the two AJ shows in Cardiff, all eyes will be on me now topping the show which gives me that extra spring in my step.
“It means a lot to headline in my own home town. To headline in Cardiff for a major domestic title is a dream come true.
“I want to win and if I have to go the 12 rounds to do that, then I’ll do it. I try not to look past my next fight, but I’d like one more fight before Christmas.”
FIGHT SCHEDULE
Joe Cordina v Sean Dodd
WBA International & vacant Commonwealth Lightweight Titles (12 rounds)
Sean McGoldrick v TBC
Bantamweight (8 rounds)
Daniyar Yeleussinov v Gabor Gorbics
Welterweight (8 rounds)
Jordan Gill v David Berna
Featherweight (8 rounds)
Tasha Jonas v Viviane Obenauf
WBA International Super-Featherweight Championship (10 rounds)
Gamal Yafai
Super-Bantamweight (6 rounds)
Scotty Cardle v Michael Mooney
Lightweight (6 rounds)
Kody Davies v Anthony Fox
Super-Middleweight (4 rounds)
Akeem Ennis Brown
Super-Lightweight Contest (6 rounds)
Nathan Thorley
4 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight Contest
Daniel Barton v Yailton Neves
4 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight Contest