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 Underneath Hearth
The Matchroom-promoted former IBF tremendous featherweight champion Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) was introduced immediately 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. Most 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 turn out to be the brand new Canelo, and he goes and makes this combat. You need to see one of the best preventing one of the best. That is what now we have within the light-weight division,” mentioned boxing pundit Paulie Malignaggi to the Probox TV YouTube channel. “On this state of affairs, you have got champion vs. champion [Tank vs. Shakur].”
You possibly can’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 fame
- Three consecutive poor performances
Malignaggi and Algieri Categorical Disappointment
“It’s the bonafide greatest two guys within the light-weight division. I perceive Cordina is stable, however he’s coming off a loss. They bend the foundations at any time when they need to. Now, you may be coming off a loss and get a world title combat,” mentioned 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 have 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 potential,” mentioned Malignaggi.
“That combat doesn’t do a lot for me. Cordina is coming off a loss, arising a weight class,” mentioned Chris Algieri. “That is his first combat at 135, coming off a foul knockout loss to combat Shakur Stevenson, who’s a incredible fighter, an incredible technician.”
Followers imagine that Hearn selected Cordina as Shakur as a result of he needed 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 format of the 135-lb division for Shakur Stevenson. When it comes to Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson. Don’t maintain your breath,” mentioned Algieri.
