IT MIGHT not have been the resounding opening victory he was hoping for but Joe Cordina insists he isn’t fazed as he kept his Olympic dream alive, writes Ben Baker.

Cordina got his assault on the men’s lightweight gold medal underway on Saturday against Charly Coronel Suarez of the Philippines.

But despite being the reigning European champion and having won his last tournament ahead of the Games – the Golden Belt in Romania – Cordina didn’t have it all his own way against Suarez.

After a solid opening round from Cordina, his Philippine opponent came back at him in the second only for the Welshman to see the fight out in the third round to win by a split decision.

And although he admits it was far from perfect, 24-year-old Cordina is not about to hit the panic button after surviving to fight another day.

“I felt I was comfortable out there,” he said. “Paul (Walmsley, coach) was telling me to do certain things and I was capitalizing on what he was telling me to do.

“He (Suarez) was falling over his front foot and swinging and I was just sitting back and hitting him.

“I gave a couple away but you can’t go swimming without getting wet so it is one of those things. You are going to get hit a couple of times and I tried to minimize that but I thought I won every round.

“I knew it was a close second round but in the last round he didn’t really hit me. He was showing off in the last half a minute but I don’t know why because every time he threw a shot he was missing.

“I have got confidence in myself. I am European champion so I don’t think I am going to come to an Olympic Games and lose my first fight. I think I am going to win and win the next one all the way to the gold medal.”

Cordina will now face Uzbekistan’s Hurshid Tojibaev on Tuesday with a spot in the quarter-finals up for grabs – with the Welshman taking nothing for granted.

“I have never boxed him (Tojibaev) before,” Cordina added. “I have seen him in a few tournaments and I know he is a strong guy.

“He has qualified for a reason and he is the number four seed. I should do the business but it is what it is so may the better man win.”

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