Joe Cordina never wanted to be a boxer but is now a two-time world champion… spurred on by the fear of losing and providing for his three children, the Welshman is ready to ‘put it all on the line’ in his first title defence against Edward Vazquez

• Joe Cordina has admitted he never considered being a boxer in early life
• He is now thriving in the sport, and has revealed what motivates him in the ring
• Listen to Mail Sport’s new boxing podcast THE HOOK – with exclusive interviews

Joe Cordina says he never wanted to be a boxer and that he only tried the sport to make his dad happy before opening up on the low point in his life that made him consider walking away from the professional game.

Cordina – who will defend his world super-featherweight title for the first time against Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo on Saturday night – has enjoyed a successful boxing career.

The Welshman attended the Olympic Games, turned professional in 2017 and reclaimed his IBF belt by beating Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov by split decision in April after he was stripped of it last year due to injury.

However, Cordina had never planned to be a boxer. Instead, he enjoying playing rugby with his friends and only put on a pair of gloves after his father encouraged him to give the sport a go.

Speaking to Wales Online, Cordina said: ‘I didn’t even want to box to be honest. I was always fighting when I was playing rugby. I just didn’t take any messing around from anyone, and wouldn’t be bullied. It ended up me getting sent off a lot, so I had to calm that down and knock it on the head.’

Joe Cordina is a two-time world champion after admitting he never wanted to be a boxer

Cordina is now set to put his title on the line for the first time against Edward Vazquez (right)

Cordina went on to credit his father for getting him into boxing, saying he decided to give the sport a go at a young age but admitted he was ‘scared’ when he first started out.

‘If my dad said jump off a cliff, then I’m gonna do it. If he told me to jump into fire, I’d do it. I do whatever he says. I remember he asked me if I wanted a fight and I just thought “go on then. I’ll have one”.

‘That first fight it was at a marquee and I’m looking out through the tent and he’s there. I just thought ‘Oh my God’. If he wasn’t there I would have got my bag and shot off. I was scared. I’m not gonna lie.

‘I was scared of getting embarrassed. Scared of losing. Scared of letting my family down, my dad down. 

‘I know he wouldn’t have felt like that. He’d be proud regardless of what I do, but it’s that fear of losing. I don’t like losing. If I lost in FIFA or Call of Duty I’d be the one smashing up the controller!’.

Since turning professional, Cordina has fought 16 times with 16 wins and no losses. Some of Cordina’s best fights and notable victories include wins over Kenichi Ogawa, Shavkat Rakhimov, Gavin Gwynne, Sean Dodd, Joshuah Hernandez, Andy Townend, and Hakim Ben Ali.

Cordina is unbeaten in 16 fights since turning professional in 2017 after the 2016 Olympics

Cordina considered walking away from the spot last year after he was stripped of his world title following hand surgery

The 31-year-old opted to fight on and won his IBF world title back earlier this year

However, it’s not all been plain-sailing for Cordina. He experienced an all-time low in October 2022 after he was forced to relinquish his super-featherweight title last year following a serious hand injury.

Cordina said he felt ‘robbed’ after being stripped of his IBF super-featherweight world title after being forced to pull out of his initial bout with Shavkat Rakhimov due to a hand injury.

The Welshman, who became world champion on an exhilarating evening in his hometown Cardiff, had been due to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Rakhimov.

However, an injury to his hand meant he was forced to withdraw from the fight – which was due to take place in Abu Dhabi. As a result, Cordina was stripped of his title.

‘It was hard. I’m not going to lie. I was in a bit of a bad place. I didn’t know if I was going to carry on and I actually thought I was going to call it a day. I spoke to my wife, and she told me I’d be fine. I spoke to the surgeon. He also said I’d be fine and back punching in three months.’

Now Cordina is looking to beat Vazquez in a venue close to his heart – the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin in Monte Carlo on Saturday night. Cordina will be headlining the event four years after he first featured in Monaco.

Speaking ahead of the fight at Thursday’s press conference, Cordina said: ‘Vazquez said in an interview he thinks I am taking him lightly.

‘I have never taken a journeyman lightly, never mind a world title fight. This is a fight that is going to potentially set up my future and my family’s future.

‘I have three kids to look after. So, every time it gets tough, I think of my kids. I know he is going to put it all on the line and I am willing to do that too.’

Cordina went on to add: ‘Vazquez is going to bring it. It’s a big opportunity for him. He’s a good fighter. I have watched his fight against (Ray) Ford and I think he should have had it. He’s going to bring his A game and he’s going to bring the heat but I am ready to match whatever he brings.

Cordina has revealed the fear of losing and his three children have given him all the motivation he needs ahead of his fight in Monte-Carlo this weekend

‘People said I never had power, now look at my knockouts. Then they were saying I can only look pretty in the ring but I shut plenty of boxers down. Now, if you come into the gym and see how I spar and how I train, I do it on the daily.’

The two-time IBF super-featherweight champion went on to discuss his fight with Rakhimov and praised the 29-year-old for forcing him ‘out of first gear’.

Cordina said: ‘The fight with Rakhimov is the only fight in my pro career that I have had to get out of first gear. Vazquez is saying I am cocky because I said you have to be special to beat me. I am not being cocky, it’s just I believe in my ability.

‘I have done it time and time again as a pro. And I have done it all throughout my amateur career, 180 odd amateur fights.’

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