Sportin Wales Exclusive Columnist

Joe Cordina

Two-Time Super Feather-Weight World Boxing Champion

 

I haven’t got much to prove to anyone, I’ve done everything there is to achieve and that’s from amateur to professional.

In terms of Wales there isn’t a more decorated fighter from amateur to professional than me, Joe Calzaghe is the king in the professional, but I’ve done everything.

I’ve achieved everything I want to achieve in the sport and all that’s left to do is make money.

It’s about going out there now and setting my family up for the future and that’s what I plan on doing.

I’ve had some good money and life experiences, been able to travel the world and I’m able to do anything I want to do, but at this moment I won’t be able to do that for the rest of my life.

Some people start from nothing and want to win British titles, but after that, all they’re thinking about is making money and if they tell you any different, they’re lying.

You can’t pay your bills, put food on the table unless you make money, if you’re fighting for a world title you aren’t going to do that for five quid.

Even if you win the world title, what can you get for that? Nothing. I’ve got two sitting on my media wall, if I sold them, I might get a few grand because they’re mine but that’d go in a second.

It’s the last push now before the fight against Anthony Cacace on May 18th but it’s getting monotonous now, talking about the same fight after it was cancelled, then again, at the same time it’s what we do, it’s just taken a bit of time to get to this point.

The training is as tough as ever. The other day was tough, eight 400metres on the track then 18 rounds on the bags, pads, grafting hard in the altitude tent.

We only get a minute off in between for the 400 so it’s about getting to pace and keeping it while being consistent with your times. I try to keep it around a 1”08, anything between 1”05 to 1”10 is good consistency across the 400’s.

For the fight I know I have to be smart and careful, but I believe I will get the win.

I believe I’ve been in the ring with better opposition, I’m more well-schooled than he is, and I trump him in every box. Not saying he can’t beat me just I think I’ve got a little bit more than him.

These fights give me the hunger even when I have already sacrificed so much.

I’ve been boxing for 16 years, on Team GB for seven years, in Sheffield from Monday to Thursday every week then coming home for a long weekend.

Sometimes I’d be gone for tournaments and training camps as well couple of weeks here and there, the only time you had off would be Christmas, maybe two then, otherwise you’re there every week.

I thought I would be training at home when I turned pro but there were too many distractions, I didn’t think there was a trainer back then who could have taken me to where I am now.

I ended up coming to Essex and by then I had two kids and now I’ve got a third, I’ve missed a lot of their birthdays, missed my wife’s birthdays, my mum’s, my dad’s and I missed a lot of things growing up.

Sacrificed my teens, my early adult life, I never went out partying, I haven’t been on a lad’s holiday and I’m 33.

Now I’m up in Essex and away from my kids. I check in regularly through the day but it’s hard for my wife.

The girls are growing up, getting a bit chopsy and it’s testing my wife’s patience, she’s trying to be a mum to three kids and the boy is two so needs a lot of her attention.

Overall, it’s definitely been worth it but I’ve missed so much with my kids it’s not nice. I’m in Saudi Arabia now, I’ve gone out early to acclimatise and get used to the heat.

I’m just gutted it means I miss Lauren Price’s world title fight against Jessica McCaskill in Cardiff on the 11th of May.

McCaskill is obviously a great fighter, she’s beaten some good girls and has been in with some great ones like Sandy Ryan, Chantelle Cameron, and Katie Taylor, this will show where Lauren is as a fighter.

I believe she’ll win. I don’t believe she’ll get the stoppage, but Lauren can definitely outbox McCaskill.

It’s a great fight for Wales and is putting Welsh women’s boxing on the map and she’s the only one in Wales making noise.

I’m just gutted I can’t be there to be honest. I’ve got my own job to do a week later, and I’ve got to think about myself. It’s a selfish sport.

In terms of my own fight, it’s just keep preparing the way we have been.

Have I changed anything that I’m trying to work on? No.

We’re just adding to the basket. We have a full trolley at the moment and may have to throw some stuff out before May 18th, but I’m ready.