EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Hearn labels Joe Cordina the 'best 130lbs fighter on the planet' but claims the Welshman 'must stay focused' to beat Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo

Eddie Hearn has labelled Joe Cordina arsenic nan 'best 130lbs combatant connected nan planet' up of his conflict with Edward Vazquez astatine the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin connected Saturday night. 

Hearn says Vazquez will beryllium a 'really reliable opponent' but backs nan 31-year-old Welshman to defend his IBF ace featherweight world title against nan American boxer. 

But, Hearn says Cordina - who trains alongside John Ryder and Conor Benn nether nan watchful oculus of Tony Sims - must enactment focused connected nan occupation astatine manus aliases location could beryllium an upset successful Monaco. 

Hearn made reference to Tyson Fury's conflict pinch Francis Ngannou, saying Cordina could underperform if he starts reasoning astir early bouts pinch nan likes of Leigh Wood and O'Shaquie Foster. 

The Matchroom promoter feels Tyson whitethorn person been excessively focused connected his undisputed title conflict with Oleksandr Usyk, causing him to nether execute against erstwhile UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou.  

Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport, Hearn said: 'Joe is nan favourite heading into nan fight. But, location are a batch of Texan and Mexican fans that deliberation Edward Vazquez is going to upset nan odds. 

'For me, Joe Cordina is nan champion 130lbs combatant connected nan planet. It’s much astir being switched on. Everyone is talking astir [O'Shaquie] Foster vs Cordina aliases Leigh Wood vs Cordina and arsenic you saw connected Saturday, if you talk astir a conflict that’s upcoming alternatively than focusing connected what’s successful beforehand of you, it because a tougher task. 

'So, arsenic agelong arsenic Joe is switched connected and he’s prepared good and he’s fresh I judge he comes done connected Saturday. But I do deliberation it will beryllium a reliable fight.

'Vazquez's going to beryllium really tough, he’s going to effort until nan very end. So, Joe has to beryllium really reliable aliases he has to return him out. Again, Vazquez hasn’t boxed astatine nan level of Joe Cordina. Maybe his powerfulness tin construe astatine that level again. 

'He’s going to travel forwards each night. Joe is going to person to sting him and wounded him to discourage him. He’s a very reliable kid that is hopeless to execute his dream of becoming a world champion, location will beryllium not quitting from Vazquez connected Saturday.' 

Hearn went connected to speak astir the renowned Casino de Monte Carlo venue which will beryllium hosting this weekend's fight. 

The Matchroom promoter said: 'It’s unusual surroundings arsenic good successful Monaco. It’s for illustration a meal show times 1000. There is royalty there. It’s a tuxedo affair. 

'There is only 300 group successful this unthinkable Casino room pinch chandeliers. Obviously Joe is utilized to stepping retired astatine nan Millennium stadium aliases nan Cardiff Arena and having each that noise. 

'So he’s really sewage to tuned successful and up for this moment. Vazquez will be. He’s truthful hungry. You only person to look astatine his Instagram and he’s talking astir his father’s successful his area and this is his life agelong dream. It’s going to beryllium a reliable conflict for Joe.'

Hearn went connected to stock his sentiment connected nan Fury vs Ngannou fight, saying nan Gypsy King 'lost' his high-profile conflict pinch nan erstwhile UFC heavyweight champion and shared his views connected nan conflict pinch Mail Sport's podcast 'The Hook'.

Hearn said: 'Before nan conflict I gave Francis Ngannou zero chance of winning, like, connected insubstantial it's conscionable nan astir unspeakable mismatch.

'A feline who has ne'er had a master boxing match. And I deliberation location was decidedly an constituent of Tyson looking done him, he wasn't arsenic good prepared arsenic he should person been, but it was still an atrocious performance.

'I consciousness a spot for Oleksandr Usyk because nan Fury-Uysk conflict is massively devalued to nan constituent that Francis Ngannou should get his rematch,' he added. 'I felt (Ngannou) won nan fight. When nan last doorbell went, my gut emotion was he's sewage this.' 

Hearn went connected to add: 'Fury looked frightened successful nan backmost extremity of nan fight. Every clip they sewage successful a clinch, he looked for illustration he was getting flung around.

'It was a difficult conflict successful that nary 1 really did a batch successful nan backmost extremity but - but because [Ngannou] dropped him and because he won those early 2 rounds, for me, he won nan fight.

'When nan last doorbell went, I went "oh my God, he's lost." Everyone was messaging maine saying "Fury's conscionable lost, Fury's conscionable lost". And then, of course, it went to last people cards and he won.

'Most people's guidance was that Ngannou won nan fight. I can't judge it. Fury looked for illustration nan feline who's ne'er boxed before. It was amazing.'