Headline News

One win from Joe Cordina? Tennyson handed British title eliminator

James Tennyson [24(20)-3(3)] is now officially just one win from the fighter and the title he set his sights on since he moved up to lightweight.

Possibly Irish boxing’s pound for pound biggest puncher has been handed a British title eliminator and victory would see him become mandatory for Matchroom prospect and current British champ Joe Cordina.

The British Boxing Board of Control have ordered Tennyson and Gavin Gwynne [10(1)-0] fight a final eliminator for the Lonsdale belt.

Both parties have up and until July 10 to agree terms or the fight will go to purse bid. The bout has to happen before October of this year meaning ‘The Assassin’ will be hoping to fight for the strap before 2019 is done.

Welsh fighter Gwynne is unbeaten in 10 and, at six foot, is big for the weight, but despite being four years Tennyson’s senior he hasn’t fought at the same level as the former Irish, Commonwealth and European Champion.

Gavin Gywnne

Myron Mills is possibly the best name on the 29-year-old’s record while Tennyson has been at world level and holds a sensational win over Martin J Ward. 

The former world title challenger is penciled in to fight at the Europa Hotel on the undercard of Cathy McAleer’s Commonwealth title challenge in September.

That may change now or Mark Dunlop may try to secure the clash for that date.

Speaking just one day before the BBBofC confirmed the fight Dunlop explained he felt the Tony Dunlop fighter would have to secure mandatory status to get a shot at Cordina and the British title.

Cordina may have time to win the belt outright and vacate by the time Tennyson potentially has mandatory position, but the Belfast fighter is on course to win his first lightweight title regardless.

“The thing is it’s harder to match James now,” Dunlop told Irish-boxing.com.

“The fighters with titles are not keen to fight him. So what I have to do is maneuver him into a position where there is no option but to fight him. We would like the Cordina fight, but I think we are going to have to become mandatory for his British title.

“James just wants another title. People forget how young he still is. There is time to let him build at lightweight. We can get the British title and move on from there.”

Speaking briefly after today’s announcement Dunlop said,

“It’s a great fight and I think it would be a great fight for the September show in the Europa. The main thing is the winner gets to fight for the British title regardless of who it’s against.

dpg

logo may

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

x