Cordina back on Tennyson’s radar – Welsh fighter won’t vacate British title

James Tennyson [25(21)-3(3)] won’t challenge for the British title in Liverpool on 23rd of November.

The Belfast lightweight is penciled in for a mouthwatering clash on the Matchroom bill – and will face former Stephen Ormond foe Craig Evans [20(3)-2(1)-2] on the undercard of Callum Smith versus John Ryder.

There was hope the eagerly anticipated clash would be made all the more exciting by getting a British title upgrade, but the bout remains a final eliminator with the winner becoming next in line for current title holder Joe Cordina [10(7)-0].

The upgrade hope came around the news the Welsh fighter will drop down in weight for his next fight. Cordina will test the waters at super featherweight on a Matchroom card in Monaco a week later on November 30.

The British and Commonwealth title holder meets Mexican Enrico Tinoco, who stopped an ill Jordan Gill in Nottingham earlier this year at the lower weight – and some fans hoped the move would free up Tennyson to fight for a vacated British lightweight title.

However, Tennyson’s manager has revealed Cordina won’t be vacating and will be holding onto the Lonsdale belt for the time being.

For all those who keep asking me, @JoeCordina_91 is not vacating the BT until after his fight on the 30th, was hoping he would be a gentleman considering he is advertising his new weight. I’ve made it clear to @MatchroomBoxing that @JamesT931 would fight joe in a heartbeat. pic.twitter.com/wKPlSgoKq4

— Mark H Dunlop (@MARKHDUNLOP) October 28, 2019

There are suggestions the former Team GB star is more interested in keeping the belt, as European lightweight title leverage in case his super featherweight move doesn’t pay off. Regardless if Tennyson beats Evan’s next month he will be mandatory for the title and the Welsh champion.

Whether, Evans will then hang around to face the former European champion and recent world title challenger remains to be seen, but team ‘Tenny’ have made it clear they have no qualms with regard to facing the Matchroom prospect.

In more Monaco Irish related news former, Katie Taylor foe Victoria Bustos moves up in weight, for a second time since trading leather with the Irish star, to challenge possible future Taylor dance partner Cecilia Braekhus, who makes her Matchroom debut in Monte Carlo.