Boxing followers fume ‘Nineteen Thirties refereeing’ as Cordina loses unbeaten file to Cacace
Anthony Cacace defeated Joe Cordina in the eighth round to win the IBF world title in a sensational performance.
The previously unbeaten Cordina suffered the first defeat of his professional career as Cacace pulled off a shock, but dominant victory, in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk.
However, Cordina’s fans have been left with a bitter taste in their mouth as the Welshman was seemingly caught with a punch on the break in the third round.
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Fans have heavily criticised the referee after Cordina came off badly and fans pointed out that he wasn’t afforded adequate time to recover from the blow that left him rocked.
‘The Apache’ continued on the offence and after being knocked down later in the round, Cordina somehow was able to make it to the bell still in the fight.
What did you make of Anthony Cacace vs Joe Cordina? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: PA)
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns in a huge clash this month with each fighter attempting to etch their names in boxing history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. The stakes couldn’t be higher as the pair will go head to head for the prestigious WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles.
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One comment on Twitter said: “1 ref should of took a point off… 2 ref should of given Joe Cordina adequate time to recover after those punches after the break which rocked him… 3 ref didn’t send Anthony Cacace to the Neutral Corner after the knockdown that was 1930s reffing ffs”.
A second wrote: “Feel like that punch after the break in Rd 3 has a lot to answer for! Gutted for Joe Cordina. Some big power punches thrown by Cacace.”
While a third added: “Anthony Cacace was warned earlier in the 3rd for hitting on the break. Joe Cordina wasn’t given any time beyond that warning period to recover.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Cordina never recovered throughout the fight and narrowly made it to the end of the sixth round following another onslaught from the Belfast native. But in the eighth round, the referee stepped in to wave the fight off to no complaints from the 32-year-old, or his corner.
After the fight, a victorious Cacace told Sky Sports: “I am in shock! Nobody gave me a chance to do this here. But I came over here confident with Mickey Hawkins, Barry O’Neill, Michael Hawkins Jnr, Andy O’Neill and Iain Mahood. We have all done this job.
“A wee lad from Andytown came all the way to Saudi Arabia and smashed up a champion. Joe is a hell of a competitor. He is an Olympian, a two-time World champion. I give him his dues, but tonight I was hurting him with every single shot. But I have nothing but respect for him and I’d love to run that back.”
