Paulie Maliggaggi is only one of many individuals who don’t perceive how Joe Cordina is getting a title shot towards WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson after being knocked out in his final combat three months in the past.
Hearn’s Choice Below Hearth
The Matchroom-promoted former IBF tremendous featherweight champion Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) was introduced at present because the opponent for Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) to combat within the co-feature bout on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol on October twelfth in Riyadh.
Cordina, 32, is ranked #13 WBC at light-weight however has by no means fought there and isn’t somebody that the majority U.S. followers are conversant in. Lots of the followers who’ve seen Cordina combat earlier than are conscious of his eighth-round knockout loss to Anthony Cacace on Might 18th.
Promoter Eddie Hearn might have underestimated followers’ reactions to Shakur defending towards his second consecutive opponent after a loss.
Final July, Shakur made his first protection of his WBC light-weight title towards Artem Harutyunyan, who had misplaced to Frank Martin final yr in July. To interrupt the sample of Shakur defending towards fighters coming off a loss, Hearn ought to have matched him towards one of many prime 5 contenders, like Raymond Muratalla, Andy Cruz, or Edwin De Los Santos.
“I hope [Tank] Davis doesn’t change into the brand new Canelo, and he goes and makes this combat. You need to see the most effective preventing the most effective. That is what we now have within the light-weight division,” stated boxing pundit Paulie Malignaggi to the Probox TV YouTube channel. “On this scenario, you’ve gotten champion vs. champion [Tank vs. Shakur].”
You may’t blame Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis for not being desirous to combat Shakur due to these causes:
- Not a PPV draw
- Can’t promote tickets
- Runner status
- Three consecutive poor performances
Malignaggi and Algieri Categorical Disappointment
“It’s the bonafide finest two guys within the light-weight division. I perceive Cordina is stable, however he’s coming off a loss. They bend the principles every time they need to. Now, you could be coming off a loss and get a world title combat,” stated Malignaggi, speaking about Joe Cordina getting a title shot towards Shakur following an eighth-round knockout loss to Anthony Cacace on Might 18th.
Even when Cordina had been a stable fighter, he’s not ranked within the prime 10 at light-weight, has by no means fought there, and isn’t well-known within the U.S. Cordina hasn’t regarded like a stable fighter in his final three fights towards Cacace, Edward Vazquez, and Shavkat Rakhimov.
“You possibly can by no means do that earlier than. I don’t even perceive how that might be attainable,” stated Malignaggi.
“That combat doesn’t do a lot for me. Cordina is coming off a loss, developing a weight class,” stated Chris Algieri. “That is his first combat at 135, coming off a foul knockout loss to combat Shakur Stevenson, who’s a implausible fighter, a fantastic technician.”
Followers consider that Hearn selected Cordina as Shakur as a result of he wished to assist him out as a result of he’s with Matchroom and needy following his loss to Cacace.
“It doesn’t actually matter by way of the structure of the 135-lb division for Shakur Stevenson. By way of Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson. Don’t maintain your breath,” stated Algieri.
