Postpublished at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
A smiling Edward Vazquez makes his way to the ring. His parents have made the trip from America for their son's first world-title challenge.
Image source, MatchroomSummary
Use audio icon at the top of the page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary
Joe Cordina holds onto IBF super-featherweight title against Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo
A back and forth fight is scored 114-114, 116-112, 116-112 for Cordina
Wales' Cordina stays undefeated and extends record to 17 fights and 17 wins
American contender Vazquez, 28, unhappy with scorecards
Somalia-born Briton Ramla Ali defeats Julissa Alejandra Guzman in rematch on undercard
Ali secures immediate revenge over Guzman after a shock defeat to Mexican in June
Get involved #bbcboxing
Postpublished at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Image source, MatchroomVazquez too small for Cordinapublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Barry Jones
Former super-featherweight world championEdward Vazquez is a good fighter who has only lost once. A pressure fighter, technically quite good and strong. But I think he's too small for super-featherweight and won't be fast enough for Cordina.
Who is Vazquez?published at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Edward 'Kid' Vazquez is a 28-year-old from Fort Worth in Texas who has been operating at featherweight.
Vazquez is a huge underdog against Cordina given the size difference, but he should not be taken too lightly. He insists he is not in Monte Carlo to make up the numbers, saying "pressure bursts pipes".
His only career loss came against highly-rated American Raymond Ford last year. Vazquez lost on a split decision in a fight many had him winning.
Image source, Getty ImagesHead-to-headpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
I'm not sure a baseball cap is the right attire for this event, Derek.
The main event is coming up next. Could we see the ring walks for a world-title fight taking places before 22:00 GMT? That's refreshing!
Here to watch Cordinapublished at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Cordina v Vazquez
Conor Benn and Derek Chisora are ringside in Monte Carlo to watch Joe Cordina in his first title defence.
Image source, MatchroomCordina has the intelligence of a great fighterpublished at 21:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Barry Jones
Former super-featherweight world championBefore Cordina won his IBF world title against Kenichi Ogawa last year, I was Cardiff's last world champion, back in 1997.
For our city, which has had so many great fighters, we've really performed under the world level, but not Cordina - he is a special talent.
He's naturally gifted but that will only get you far. What makes him stand out is that he has the intelligence of a great fighter and his work ethic is up there with what you need to get you to the top.
Joe Cordina preparespublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Cordina v Vazquez
Joe Cordina looking focussed backstage in Monte Carlo as he prepares for the first defence of his IBF super-featherweight title.
Image source, MatchroomListen to 5 Live Boxing podcastpublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
In this week's 5 Live Boxing podcast, Steve Bunce has been in Monaco chatting to both fighters as well as Tony Sims, who trains Joe Cordina.
Also on the podcast is Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn who shares his thoughts on the Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou fight as well as tonight's action.
You can listen to Thursday's 5 Live Boxing podcast here.
How did we get here?published at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Seventeen months from becoming world champion, Joe Cordina makes a first defence of his world title.
A standout amateur, Cardiff-born Cordina had long been tipped for boxing stardom.
In June 2022 he beating Kenichi Ogawa with a superb one-punch knockout to claim the IBF super-featherweight title, becoming Wales' 13th world champion.
But the joy was short-lived. A hand injury forced Cordina out of a mandatory defence against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and consequently stripped of the belt.
Having recovered from the injury, Cordina reclaimed his title with a split-decision win over the Tajikistani Rakhmiov in April.
Image source, Getty ImagesListen on 5 livepublished at 21:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
BBC Radio 5 LiveYou can listen to live commentary on tonight's fight on BBC Radio 5 live from 22:00 GMT.
Ali outpoints Guzman on undercardpublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Briton Ramla Ali said she fought with "jelly legs" in her points win over Mexican Julissa Alejandra Guzman on the undercard.
Ali, 34, put in a disciplined performance to reclaim the WBA intercontinental title she lost in June, with the judges scoring it 96-94.
Afterwards, she said she had "slept zero hours" the night before the fight.
"I started my period this morning as well. So I was double down on my energy level," Ali said.
Image source, Matchroom BoxingWe wanted to see this in Cardiffpublished at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Barry Jones
Former super-featherweight world championThe fact Joe Cordina is from Cardiff is why he can be such a big star in Wales - and really this fight should be in Wales.
It's why I'm a little bit disappointed it is in Monte Carlo. As a Welsh boxing fan, I would have wanted it in Cardiff.
It was such a good crowd when Cordina beat Kenichi Ogawa, a great crowd against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov. I don't know how it worked out financially but the atmosphere was fantastic and there were real building blocks there.
Now his first real defence is in another country it's a bit disappointing for Welsh and Cardiff fans because we want to see him live here.
A classy affair in Monte Carlopublished at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
At Matchroom Boxing shows over the past year or so we've seen cannons firing out t-shirts into the crowd and a shadow boxing cam roaming arenas encouraging people to show off their skills on the big screen.
We're in for something a little different tonight, with the fight taking place in ostentatious surroundings at the renowned Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco.
Just a few hundred select guests, suited, booted and dressed for the occasion, will be in attendance.
Boxing - it's a strange old sport, eh?
Image source, Matchroom
Image source, MatchroomGood eveningpublished at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023
Percy Jones. Jimmy Wilde. Joe Calzaghe. Wales boasts a rich history of producing some boxing superstars.
Flying the flag for Welsh boxing in 2023 is a super-featherweight wizard Joe Cordina.
He has a long way to go before he can join the conversation of all-time Welsh greats, but IBF world champion Cordina continues on his quest towards boxing stardom tonight against American challenger Edward Vazquez.
Image source, Getty Images