IBF World Super Featherweight Champion JOE CORDINA

Saudi Show Will Be Epic . . . I Can’t Wait To Be There

The life of a boxer is never straightforward, but it helps when you have a goal and a target – and better still, a date for your next fight – in mind.

At the time of writing this, it’s not been officially confirmed, but I’m very hopeful of defending my world title against Anthony Cacace on February 17.

That fight would be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the same bill as the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight clash.

Any world title fight is massive, but for me to be part of that bill – one of the biggest fight nights in boxing history – is just huge.

The boxing world will have their eyes fixed on that bill, so for me to showcase my skills and what I’m all about, is fantastic.

I’ve been to the Middle East before, they’ve been good experiences, but this will be my first trip to Saudi.

Whatever anyone may think about the country, the fact is they are investing heavily into a whole load of sports – including boxing.

We’ve seen their move into football, into golf, even darts, and this will be their third big promotion in boxing since last October.

At present, they are hosting the biggest fights, and so it’s an honour to be going there with my IBF belt to defend it.

Cacace is a good fighter and someone I’ve got a lot of respect for. He’s a good guy, who has overcome injury problems that have maybe made him less active than he might have been.

But his record is excellent – 21 wins and one defeat – so I’ve got nothing but respect for him and it should be a great fight.

He’s IBO champion, which is not a title some people even recognise, but let me tell you, I recognise Anthony is a good fighter.

He’s got a good following in Northern Ireland, and it would have made a good fight anywhere, but business is business and we’re off to Saudi.

Other possible opponents had been bandied around, but the truth is that Cacace was always in the mix and right now this is the fight that makes sense.

I’m currently in the States, in LA, preparing for the fight and training has been going well.

But having an opponent, having a date, a mission, if you like, focusses the mind.

There are a few little loose ends to tie up over the next couple of days, but the fight is looking 95 per cent certain to happen.

My plan is to stay here, fly back to Cardiff for a few days to be with my family, and then head out to Saudi to get down to business on February 17.

There might be some people in boxing who feel fighting in mid-February is a little soon for me.

After all, I only defended the title back in November against Edward Vazquez in Monaco and that was a tough night against a difficult opponent.

But I don’t want to hang about in this game. I’m fit, I’m at the peak of my powers and I want to start putting together a string of big, meaningful fights that draw in the crowds and create interest.

That’s why we are in the sport – to get people into stadia, or hooked up to their screens, to watch unmissable sport.

Every time Fury gets in a ring, there is massive interest, but Usyk is a guy with his own mystique so it’s going to be mega, maybe the biggest undisputed heavyweight title fight for 30 years.

I’m going to be part of that historic night and so I can’t wait to step back in the ring.