Joe Cordina defends his IBF super featherweight title against Anthony Cacace on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk.
Cordina looks to make a statement to his fellow 130-pound champions that he’s ready for them, while Cacace looks to make the most of what could be his last shot at a world title.
Boxing odds have Cordina as a significant -575 favorite, and Cacace is a +400 underdog. Here are my betting picks for Cordina vs. Cacace on May 18.
Cordina vs Cacace prediction and pick
- My fight prediction
Cordina ML (-575 at DraftKings) - My best bet
Cordina to win by decision (-115 at DraftKings)
Fight analysis
Nobody has had a tougher time getting into the ring than Anthony Cacace, who has fought once a year since 2019. The time between those fights has seen him injured or facing unavoidable delays — including this fight — which was originally scheduled three months ago. Assuming there are no issues, Cacace is getting his chance to fight for a recognized world title.
It has been a long time coming for the Belfast boxer, who's developed into a solid regional talent. Cacace is tall, rangy, and always coming forward, but this is a significant step up in class for him. Furthermore, he's not a particularly big puncher, with only seven knockouts in twenty-one wins, and he doesn't have any notable wins that suggest he's been underachieving in the local ranks.
Joe Cordina is a tremendously skilled fighter who might be right at his talent ceiling, but he can grind it out, as we saw in his fight against Shavkat Rakhimov. That said, he hasn't shown flashes of true brilliance that suggest the 32-year-old champion is anything but the weak link at super featherweight. Even though Cordina isn't likely to run the divisional table, he's good enough to keep regional-level opponents like Cacace where they belong.
There have been talks Cordina is struggling to make the 130-pound limit over his last few fights. He didn't look particularly good in his last fight — a majority decision against Edward Vasquez — but he's only been out of the ring for five months as opposed to a year before Vasquez. This should allow Cordina to stay in shape, not get rusty, and be able to work at his pace.
The skill gap between these two might not be as pronounced as the odds indicate, and Cacace is going to be in the fight for as long as it lasts, but Cordina will outclass him.
Best best analysis
Without the stopping power or aggressive styles that have troubled Cordina in the past, there’s not much Cacace can do to pull this off. Cordina is the better boxer, has fought at a higher level, and might have a size advantage. Cacace is a tough ask for fellow mid-tier boxers, but there’ll be a significant skill gap.
Though Cordina hasn’t been able to separate himself that much from the rest of the pack, he’s demonstrated championship characteristics and fought well in adverse situations. While Cacace will be chasing him down, he’ll get peppered with shots along the way, and the lack of power will ensure that his shots won’t impress the judges as he pursues Cordina.
This should be a by-the-numbers decision for Cordina, taking a dominant decision on the scorecards as the best bet of the fight.
Cordina vs Cacace odds
| Method of victory | Joe Cordina | Anthony Cacace |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -575 | +400 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +175 | +1,200 |
| Win by points or decision | -115 | +650 |
| Draw | +1,800 | +1,800 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 5-15.
Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace tale of the tape
| Cordina | Cacace | |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Age | 35 |
| 5-feet-9 | Height | 5-feet-10 |
| 115lbs | Weight | 115 lbs |
| 69 inches | Reach | 71 inches |
| 17-0 | Record | 21-1 |
Not intended for use in MA.
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