Joe Cordina Wants To Be The New Joe Calzaghe And Keep Cardiff On The Fight Map

Joe Cordina has already broken the mould as the first sportsman to compete in three different sports at the Principality Stadium, but now he has a new target.

The 26-year-old boxer has played schoolboy rugby and football at the venue, but his return to the stadium on Saturday night to fight for a second time is the start of a fresh campaign.

“I love fighting in Cardiff and have a really good following,” says Cordina. “There needs to be someone to take over from Joe Calzaghe and bring regular big time boxing back to Cardiff, not just Anthony Joshua but a Welsh fighter and I’m capable of doing it.

Cordina has impressively notched up six quick wins since turning over to the paid ranks early last year and he now takes his first step up in class as he battles Belgium’s Hakim Ben Ali over ten rounds.

The contest marks the skilful Cardiff fighter’s first title bout in the professional format – with the WBA International lightweight title at stake – and Cordina hopes it is the start of a fruitful period in the sport.

“This is a massive moment for my career and it’s that step up from fighting journeymen in learning fights – I know I’m more than capable of getting the job done.” Cordina told Sky Sports.

“I have to be switched on and put into practice everything I’ve been learning over the last year with Tony Sims. Then, I want to move on and I want more titles, a good win and I’m thereabouts in the domestic scene.

Hakim Ben Ali. Pic: Getty Images.

“As long as I keep winning, that’s the plan. Calzaghe was a world champion for so many years, having loads of defences, so along the way people bought into him. I’m from Cardiff and people will come out to support me – it’s on their doorstep.

“It’s just about building up and getting people on board. I will have to do my part and keep winning and picking up titles. We can have some great times over the years in Wales.”

Cordina has just been out In Los Angeles with his close-knit team, spending some time in the famous Wildcard Gym, and the unbeaten star is enjoying the challenges coming his way.

“We went to LA recently and it was a brilliant experience. We went to Robert Garcia’s gym (Mikey Garcia’s brother and trainer) for the first week and got a lot of sparring in and then we went to the Wildcard gym.

“It was a brilliant experience and it was different to what I am used to with it being so intense and busy – everyone is eager to impress.

“Now, I’m just focused on this next fight, I can’t afford to look beyond it and take my eye off the ball.”