Joe Cordina's Amateur Success
Joe Cordina secured the European amateur lightweight title in 2015, marking a significant milestone early in his boxing career.
Upcoming Title Fight
Former super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina is set to face Abdullah Mason for Mason's WBO lightweight title on Saturday, 4 July. Mason, an American boxer, will defend his belt on home turf.
Cordina's Recent Career Highlights
Cordina, who lost his IBF 130lb world title in May 2024 to Anthony Cacace—a surprising defeat that remains his only loss in 19 professional fights—has since rebounded. The 34-year-old from Cardiff claimed the vacant WBO global lightweight title by defeating Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz. He then secured a unanimous points victory over Gabriel Flores Jr in California in December 2025.
Fight Venue and Context
The upcoming bout will take place at the CSU Wolstein Centre in Cleveland, where Mason will make the first defense of the title he won in a memorable match against Sam Noakes in November 2025. Cordina aims to capture the title on foreign soil.
Cordina's Ambition
Cordina is motivated by the prospect of becoming a two-weight world champion, a goal that has driven his recent career moves.
Amateur and Early Professional Career
Earlier in his career, Cordina won British and Commonwealth lightweight titles. He was a distinguished amateur, competing at the Olympics and training within the Team GB program alongside friend Anthony Joshua.
Turning professional in 2017, Cordina became Wales' 13th world champion when he defeated Kenichi Ogawa to claim the IBF super-featherweight title in June 2022.
Title Challenges and Setbacks
Cordina was stripped of the IBF title after being unable to defend it within 90 days due to a broken hand. However, he regained the title with a split-decision victory over Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in April 2023.
In May 2024, Cordina was favored to retain his belt in Riyadh but was stopped in the eighth round by Belfast's Anthony Cacace.
He was scheduled to fight WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson in October 2024, but the bout was canceled after Stevenson withdrew due to a hand injury.
Return to the Ring and Recent Fights
After a 14-month hiatus, Cordina returned in July 2025, defeating Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz by points decision at Manchester's AO Arena. The fight was challenging, with Cordina needing to overcome the quick and spirited Mexican opponent.
In a December 2025 bout billed as a final eliminator for the WBO lightweight world title, Cordina faced Gabriel Flores Jr. Despite being docked a point for rabbit punching in the sixth round and being hurt by an uppercut in the seventh, Cordina prevailed with scores of 117-110, 115-112, and 114-113. This victory marked his first win in the United States and established him as the number one contender for Mason's title.
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