Joe Cordina lands punch of his life, destroys Kenichi Ogawa to become Wales' 13th world champion

Joe Cordina relished the opportunity to become Wales 13^th world champion, at home before an expectant, partisan crowd at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. Not only that but the Rio Olympian had the chance to be the fourth of that GB Olympic squad to achieve global glory – following Nicola Adams, Lawrence Okolie and Savannah Marshall.  Opposing the unbeaten 30-year-old, however, was a formidable fighter in Kenichi Ogawa of Japan.

The defending IBF super-featherweight ruler was four years the older man but had experienced twice the number of professional contests and undoubtedly mixed in better class. A smart pressure-fighter with a dig, Ogawa has vanquished a very sharp Azinga Fuzile for the vacant belt in November, dropping his rival twice and triumphing clearly on the scorecards. A previous points success over Tevin Farmer for the same strap five years ago was changed to a No Contest when Ogawa failed the post-fight drug test, but Kenichi had lost just once, early in his career.

Cordina had done everything asked of him, winning domestic belts at lightweight before dropping the excess five pounds and making his ascent toward world level. Fast, intelligent and slick, Cordina had all the tools but his best win at 130lbs entering this fight may have been tough Faroukh Kourbanov, who was well outclassed by Zelfa Barrett for the European title in tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN chief support.

Most people predicted a Cordina decision win or Ogawa grinding him down but the Welshman, not thought of as a puncher, became the first to beat the reigning champ inside the distance, destroying him with a single, devastating blow in the second round.

Cordina, the bookmakers’ pre-fight favourite, established his jab well from the outset but Ogawa opened up towards the end of the opener. There was no hint of what was to come.

In round two, Cordina stayed off the ropes, as trainer Tony Sims had requested. He advanced patiently, feinted a jab to the body, compelling Ogawa to lower his guard just slightly, then immediately whipped over a punishing right hand that landed bang on the jaw. Ogawa never looked like rising in time to beat the count and appeared dazed when eventually helped onto a stool. I can think of few greater one-punch KOs by British fighters in word titles clashes since Carl Froch’s rematch victory over George Groves.