WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and Joe Cordina have agreed to a fight on October 12th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This fight will take place on the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev undercard, which will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV at the Kingdom Arena. It remains uncertain whether Stevenson will be placed as the co-feature fight on the card or if he will be further down in the lineup. The decision on the positioning of the fight could be crucial for the event organizer, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, to ensure the audience’s engagement throughout the night.
One of the major concerns with this fight is the opponent choice. Joe Cordina is coming off a loss in his recent fight, just like Stevenson’s previous opponent Artem Harutyunyan. This makes it two back-to-back fights against opponents who were defeated in their previous outings. It would have been more exciting for fans to see Stevenson face opponents like Andy Cruz, Raymond Muratalla, Floyd Schofield, or Edwin De Los Santos instead. These fighters would have brought a higher level of competition and anticipation to the matchup.
Choosing Joe Cordina as Stevenson’s opponent may not generate the excitement and interest that a fight against a more prominent and successful boxer would. Cordina’s loss to Anthony Cacace in May adds to the lack of buzz surrounding this matchup. Stevenson, who previously held world titles at 126 and 130, has not taken on any significant opponents since moving up to the lightweight division. This trend of facing lesser-known or unimpressive opponents could potentially hurt Stevenson’s reputation and fan following, especially in the competitive boxing scene.
The decision to fight Joe Cordina could have implications for Stevenson’s career going forward. By facing opponents who are not as established or recognized in the boxing world, Stevenson may struggle to make a mark and progress to bigger fights and titles. If Stevenson aims to negotiate with top fighters like Gervonta Davis in the future, he will need to showcase his skills and talent against more credible opponents to earn that opportunity. The risk of stagnation in Stevenson’s career progression is high if he continues to select opponents like Cordina for his fights.
The matchup between Shakur Stevenson and Joe Cordina poses a significant risk for Stevenson’s reputation and career trajectory. The choice of opponent, who is coming off a loss and lacks notoriety in the sport, may hinder Stevenson’s ability to advance to higher-profile fights and secure lucrative deals in the future. To reach his full potential and establish himself as a top-tier lightweight contender, Stevenson must aim for more challenging and compelling opponents in his upcoming bouts. Otherwise, he risks being overshadowed by other rising stars in the boxing world.