Both champion Kenichi Ogawa of Teiken Boxing Gym and third-ranked challenger Joe Cordina of Britain cleared their weigh-ins on June 3 at Cardiff City Hall in Wales, setting the stage for their International Boxing Federation super featherweight title match on June 4 (5 Japan time) at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

The 34-year-old Ogawa weighed in at 58.75 kg (129.55 lbs) while the 30-year-old Cordina tipped the scales at 58.93 kg (129.95 lbs), clearing the division’s weight limit of 58.967 kg (130 lbs). respectively.
It will be Ogawa’s first defense of the title he captured last November by beating Azinga Fuzile of South Africa for the vacant title at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The following is Ogawa’s comment sent by the Teiken gym.

‘’I am relieved now because I have just cleared my weigh-in, which is the second most important thing (in a title fight). I had thought I would be booed a little more at the weigh-in site. But it turned out to be less than expected. While I entered the site by covering my ears, it was a touch anticlimactic. I really felt comfortable with the atmosphere here.’’

Ogawa has a record to 26 wins, including 18 KOs, against a loss and a draw with one no contest. For his part, Cordina, who entered the 2016 Summer Olympics, is undefeated in his 14 fights, including eight KOs, since making his professional debut in April 2017.
Photo by SUMIO YAMADA