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‘Assassin’ sets his sights on Cordina – Tennyson targets British lightweight title

James Tennyson [25(21)-3(3)] is gunning for the British title and Matchroom prospect Joe Cordina [10(7)-0] according to Mark Dunlop.

Tennyson picked up the WBA International ranking title with an impressive stoppage of Atif Shafiq [21(5)-3(2)] in London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.

The title will more than likely secure the former European super featherweight champion a lightweight world ranking, which prompted questions with regard to pursuing a second world title shot.

However, the Belfast fighter’s manager claims he has domestic duties first.

As Irish-boxing.com confirmed last month Dunlop along with Matchroom won the purse bids to promote the board ordered British title eliminator between ‘Tenny’ and another Welshman in Craig Evans.

Team Tennyson now hope that fight will play out in late October and they want Olympian Cordina for the British title soon after.

“He has a British title eliminator with Craig Evans and then we will be looking to fight Joe Cordina for the Brisith title. Hopefully the Evans fight will take place on 25th or 26th of October,” Mark Dunlop suggested after Saturday’s win.

Cordina successfully defended his title for a second time with victory over Gavin Gwyne on the same card as Tennyson over the weekend. One more victory would see him win the Lonsdale belt outright, but fighting ‘The Assassin’ this early in his career may not appeal.

Indeed post having his hand raised on the Matchroom PPV card Cordina was eyeing up a European title shot versus Belgian-Italian Francesco Patera.

Tennyson won’t be too bothered as to what Cordina does – for now the 26-year-old is open to fighting anyone and is content to continue to move up the lightweight ladder.

“I’ll fight anyone,” Tennyson responded to ‘whats next’ questions.

“[World level]  is where every boxer wants to be so definitely I will be working towards it,” he added before reflecting on his 21st career knockout win.”

“I’m more than happy with that. The power I have meant the fight ended early and I am really happy with my performance. He is a good lad and he’ll come again. He is tricky, he is awkward and he has given a lot of people out there a lot of trouble.”

 

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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