Avila Perspective, Chap. 258: A Title Fight in Monaco Buoys a Busy Boxing Weekend

Avila Perspective, Chap. 258: A Title Fight in Monaco Buoys a Busy Boxing Weekend

World title action on Saturday dominates first from Monaco where super featherweights tangle and then jumps to Central America for a minimumweight championship clash.

And there is much more.

IBF super featherweight titlist Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 KOs) of Wales defends against Texan Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 4, at the Casino de Monte Carlo. The Matchroom Boxing card will be streamed live at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET.

This is Cordina’s second title defense since taking the belt via knockout over Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa back in June 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. He then defended against Shav Rakhimov this past April and won by split decision.

“People said I didn’t have power, I knocked out Ogawa. Then they said I can only look pretty, and I showed I can dig down against Rakhimov,” said Cordina adding that he expects Vazquez to be equally tough. “”He’s going to bring it because it’s a big opportunity for him. He’s a good fighter.”

Vazquez, 28, fights out of Fort Worth, Texas and has defeated some tough opposition such as Adan Ochoa and Brandon Cruz.

“I’m 100 per cent ready, we had all the time to get ready for the fight so come Saturday night, we’ll see who the best man is,” Vazquez said.

The super featherweight division has always been a hot division internationally. Just last week we saw O’Shaquie Foster and Rocky Hernandez burn up the boxing ring in one of the better fights of the year. Foster retained the WBC version by knockout.

Can Cordina and Vazquez produce another sizzler?

The semi-main event features a rematch between England’s Ramla Ali (8-1) and Mexico’s Julissa Guzman (13-2-2). Their first encounter resulted in an astonishing knockout win for Guzman.

Ali is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and trains with Manny Robles in Southern California. They seek redemption but the former Olympian faces a hard-hitting Mexican with power in both fists.

Title match in Costa Rica

Later, on Saturday, another world title match occurs as Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle (29-2, 9 KOs) hosts Mexico’s Anabel Ortiz (33-5, 4 KOs) in the main event in Cartago, Costa Rica.  DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions fight card roughly around 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

Valle holds the IBF and WBO minimumweight world titles and Ortiz is a former minimumweight champion who had almost a dozen defenses. She is hoping a move down to 105 pounds is the right move. She had no luck fighting in the heavier light flyweight and flyweight divisions.

For Valle, who also held the light flyweight world titles, she is looking to maintain her place in line to face the other minimumweight champion, Seniesa Estrada. A unification match is sought between them. Early statements by both camps suggest a unification match for undisputed status could take place in Costa Rica early next year.

Currently Estrada is recovering from surgery.

Valle remains busy and this will be her fourth fight within 12 months.

“Anabel Ortiz is a great fighter who I highly respect. I’ve been waiting to fight her for years, she is a former world champion with a lot of experience, she has defended her titles many times, and she has the desire to become world champion yet again. I am ready for November 4,” said Valle last month in Los Angeles.

Ortiz is anxious for this moment.

“I am really happy to fight in another country, Costa Rica, the home of a highly respected world champion,” said Anabel Ortiz. “I was surprised and full of enthusiasm when I received the news that I would be fighting Yokasta. It’s been a year since I’ve been able to fight, and there’s nothing more motivating than knowing you have an opportunity to fight for a world championship.”

Lake Tahoe

Top Rank serves up a loaded card featuring a number of its almost ready for prime time talent. ESPN+ will stream at 3 p.m. PT.

Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) fights Australia’s Joe Goddall (10-1-1, 9 KOs) in the main event at Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Also on the card, Southern California’s Ray “Danger” Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) meets Mexico’s Diego Torres (18-0, 17 KOs) in a lightweight clash.

Others on the card include Lindolfo Delgado, Brandon Moore, Henry Lebron and a few other standouts.

SoCal fights

A number of undefeated fighters including Alejandro Silva are featured on the new CBN Promotions card on Saturday Nov. 4, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif. Estrella TV will televise the card. It can also be seen on www.FightStars.Network.

Argentina’s Alejandro Silva (20-0-1, 15 KOs) faces Colombia’s Janer Gonzalez (21-5-1, 17 KOs) in the super welterweight main event set for eight rounds.

Doors open at 5 p.m. For tickets and information call (800) 283-8699.

The weighing takes place at Hustlers Casino at noon on Friday Nov. 3.

Broadway Boxing

Now in its 20^th year, Broadway Boxing has featured numerous world champions at the beginning of their careers such as Paul Malignaggi and Heather Hardy. On Tuesday Nov. 7, DiBella Entertainment brings another piping hot card to Manhattan at the Edison Ballroom.

Former world champ Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring (23-4) meets Nicholas Molina (13-0) in the main event. Also, former super flyweight world champion Miyo Yoshida (16-3) meets Shurretta Metcalf (12-4-1) in the co-main event.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 12 p.m. Joe Cordina (16-0) vs Edward Vazquez (15-1); Ramla Ali (8-1) vs Julissa Guzman (13-2-2).

Sat. ESPN+ 3 p.m. Efe Ajagba (18-1) vs Joe Goodall (10-1-1).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Yokasta Valle (29-2) vs Anabel Ortiz (33-5).

Sat. Estrella TV 6 p.m. Alejandro Silva (20-0-1) vs Janer Gonzalez (21-5-1).

Tues. DAZN 5 p.m. Jamel Herring (23-4) vs Nicholas Molina (13-0); Miyo Yoshida (16-3) vs Shurretta Metcalf (12-4-1).

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