Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez full card results as Welsh Wizard edges to MD win in Monte Carlo thriller

Dom Farrell

•
Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez full card results as Welsh Wizard edges to MD win in Monte Carlo thriller image

Joe Cordina had to go to the well against Edward Vazquez before prevailing by majority decision over his unfancied American opponent, staying on course for blockbuster super-featherweight fights in 2024.

Cordina (17-0, 9 KOs) was making the first defence of his second reign as IBF champion at 130 lbs and sort to put on a show for the exclusive 300-capacity crowd at Casino de Monte Carlo, rolling the dice unnecessarily during the first half of the contest.

That helped Vazquez (15-2, 3 KOs) to grow in confidence and Cordina’s lack of respect for the Texan’s power meant he was willing to stand in the pocket and look for a statement victory, with potential dates against compatriot Leigh Wood and WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster on the horizon.

It ultimately left the fight up for grabs and jeopardised those grand plans. Both men claimed victory at the end of an undulating final round and judge Jeremy Hayes scored the contest 114-114. Cordina prevailed 116-112 on the other two cards, much to Vazquez’s fury.

WATCH: Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vazquez, live on DAZN

The Sporting News scored the fight 115-113 to Cordina, who made a sharp and fast start behind his orthodox jab before scoring to Vazquez’s body with slicing left hooks. An overhand right timed the challenger as he sought to fire back.

Vazquez’s tactic of front-foot pressure came to the fore in round two, with the naturally bigger Cordina happy meet him and exchange in the centre of the ring. The American connected upstairs with a right uppercut and left hook to conclude an action-packed session.

An overhand right over Cordina’s jab steadied the champion during the opening minute of the third. It persuaded him to operate at range, with precision work off his stinging left lead catching the eye.

Vazquez’s attacks were crude by comparison as he stalked forward low. Although this yielded some good moments during the first half of round four, Cordina engineered room to land a booming uppercut and take charge again.

There was more pleasing back and forth in the next stanza, with Vazquez continuing to apply pressure and shipping a sapping body shot before catching Cordina with a short right to the temple.

Cordina’s gumshield flying out during a sixth-round exchange underlined how gruelling the task had become. He brought some Olympic pedigree to the fore to open up an advantage, although Vazquez doggedly took round nine when the champ’s pace dropped.

With the fight still up for grabs in the championship rounds, the American crunched home a pair of eye-catching left hooks to the jaw as Cordina looked to be feeling the pace.

There was no letup from Vazquez in the final round of furious trading that was fought on his terms. It left him sensing unlikely glory that he later claimed was unjustly snatched away.

Curiel stuns South African star Nontshinga to win light flyweight gold

There was a huge upset in the co-main event when Sivenathi Nontshinga's designs on becoming the undisputed light flyweight world champion were left in tatters as Adrian Curiel produced a stunning second-round knockout.  

Nontshinga headed into his second defence of the IBF title with an unblemished 11-0 record and nine stoppages to his name. It meant there was little to suggest the sensation that Curiel (24-4-1, 5 KOs) caused when sprung from behind a high guard to unleash a hellacious overhand right.

The shot punished a tentative prod with the left hand that left Nontshinga exposed, laying him flat on his back as referee Sparkle Lee waved the fight off early in her count. Curiel is Mexico's latest world champion and very much in the conversation for knockout and upset of the year.

Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez full card results

  • Joe Cordina (c) vs. Edward Vazquez for the IBF super featherweight title
  • Adrian Curiel def. Sivenathi Nontshinga (c) (KO 2) to win the IBF light flyweight title
  • Souleymane Cissokho def. Isaias Lucero (UD12); welterweights
  • Ramla Ali def. Julissa Guzman vs. Ramla Ali (UD 10); super bantamweights

How to watch Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez

Region TV channel Live streaming
USA — DAZN
Canada — DAZN
UK and Ireland DAZN 1 HD DAZN
Australia — DAZN

The Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vazquez fight card will be available via DAZN.

Now available as a Sky channel, DAZN 1 HD, in the UK and Ireland.

WATCH: Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vazquez, live on DAZN

Joe Cordina vs. Edward Vazquez price: How much does the fight cost? 

  • DAZN monthly subscription: $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 month-to-month in U.S. / $24.99 per month in Canada / £9.99 in the U.K. on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month / 13.99 AUD
  • DAZN annual subscription: $224.99 in U.S., $199.99 in Canada, £99.99 in the U.K.

MORE: Joe Cordina vs Edward Vazquez odds, predictions, betting trends for boxing fight

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.