Robert Garcia backs Joe Cordina as an inexpensive opponent for Manny Pacquiao on the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua undercard, giving Netflix one other well-known title with out the expense of including a second main headliner.
Cordina would deliver Welsh assist to the proposed December 11 battle in Cardiff. Nonetheless, Garcia’s endorsement rests partly on what he would price, leaving the boxing query of how a former tremendous featherweight champion would deal with Pacquiao at welterweight.
“Cordina’s excellent – someone not [commercially big enough to] price them tens of tens of millions of {dollars},” Garcia advised BoxingScene.
Garcia believes Netflix desires Pacquiao’s worldwide viewers. Cordina gives a method to safe that attraction whereas including a neighborhood fighter whose asking value must be extra manageable than one other established headliner’s.
The matchmaking deserves nearer examination. Cordina does his finest work when he can measure distance, time opponents coming ahead and land correct counters. Anthony Cacace disrupted that rhythm with sustained strain, leaving Cordina unable to maintain the battle at a cushty tempo.
Pacquiao would current a special model of that problem. His sudden entries and combos from altering angles might power Cordina to react earlier than setting his ft. Being the youthful fighter wouldn’t essentially shield Cordina if he struggled to learn these assaults.
Whether or not Pacquiao can nonetheless produce them constantly at 47 is one other query. Cordina might discover alternatives between bursts if Pacquiao wants longer rests, making the older fighter’s conditioning as related as his remaining pace.
For Cordina, accepting could be comprehensible. Beating Pacquiao would deliver worldwide consideration that few obtainable opponents might supply. A defeat at the next weight could be simpler to elucidate, though a harmful stoppage might undermine the monetary reward.
A catchweight might scale back the scale of Cordina’s soar, however no such settlement has been introduced. Hearn’s proposal stays unconfirmed, with Cordina’s pending courtroom case additionally affecting his availability. Garcia has defined why the pairing might match the funds; Cordina would nonetheless must show it fits him contained in the ring.
