Stevenson to Defend Title Against Cordina in Saudi Arabia

Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight title against Joe Cordina on 12 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was announced on Tuesday. The fight will serve as the co-feature to the highly anticipated undisputed light heavyweight championship bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, confirmed the news. He expressed enthusiasm for Stevenson's future, stating, "[Stevenson's] talented and young and if he's smart, we will do a lot of things with him. There's a big fight with him in the future." Alalshikh was likely referring to a potential clash with undefeated Mexican puncher William Zepeda, which could materialise early next year.

Stevenson, ESPN's No. 9 pound-for-pound boxer, boasts a perfect 22-0 record with 10 knockouts. The 27-year-old Newark native, previously promoted by Top Rank, will now compete under the Riyadh Season banner.

Cordina, a 32-year-old Welshman, is coming off his first professional defeat – an eighth-round TKO loss against Anthony Cacace in May in Riyadh. The fight saw him relinquish his 130-pound title. However, the determined fighter will be competing in his fifth consecutive title fight.

The undercard promises a diverse range of action, including the first Riyadh Season women's title fight between Skye Nicholson and Raven Chapman. Alalshikh highlighted this event, stating, "This is the beginning and we will have a lot of fights with women in the future."

Other notable undercard bouts include IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia's title defence against Jack Massey, a rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Kamil Szeremeta, and a heavyweight clash between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clark, a rematch of their thrilling February draw.

Alalshikh has expressed his openness to working with various boxing promoters, stating, "The most important thing is, my door is open for everyone. For Al Haymon, Top Rank, Oscar [De La Hoya], Eddie [Hearn], Queensberry, Ben Shalom, everyone."

Furthermore, Alalshikh is exploring a heavyweight battle between Martin Bakole and Zhilei Zhang, potentially taking place later this year in either Africa or China, the respective home countries of the fighters. Bakole is fresh off a career-defining fifth-round TKO win against Jared Anderson earlier this month, while Zhang also secured a spectacular fifth-round TKO victory against former champion Deontay Wilder in June.

Both towering heavyweights, standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing around 285 pounds, represent exciting prospects in the division. Alalshikh highlighted the opportunity for Bakole, stating, "Who else is giving Bakole the opportunity? This is his second fight with us in 10 months."

This stacked event in Riyadh promises a thrilling night of boxing action, showcasing top-tier talent across multiple weight classes and demonstrating Saudi Arabia's commitment to expanding its presence in the sport.