Joe Cordina says he will be achieving an American dream when he fights Abdullah Mason in Ohio on Independence Day. Well almost.
The former world super-featherweight world champion had set his sights on emulating fellow Welshman Joe Calzaghe in winning world title fights in Las Vegas and New York.
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Instead on 4 July, his US mission will be to challenge WBO lightweight champion Mason in the 22-year-old’s hometown of Cleveland.
“I’ve achieved everything I’ve wanted to achieve, I’ve still got ambition of being a world champion but I’ve always wanted to have a big fight in America against a big name,” 34-year-old Cordina told BBC Radio Wales’ Drive programme.
“And, at this present moment, Abdullah Mason is a massive name, especially being the youngest world champion. It’s a massive test but it’s one I’m more than capable of.”
Former world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Calzaghe won twice in America in a stellar unbeaten career.
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In April 2008 he defeated Bernard Hopkins at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, before beating Roy Jones Jr at New York’s Madison Square Garden later that year in his final fight.
“I remember when [Joe] went over to fight Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins and he had the same sort of ambition as me, he wanted them big in America,” added Cordina, whose fight with Mason was confirmed this week.
“Ideally, my goal was to fight in America and fight in Vegas or Madison Square Garden.
“Unfortunately it can’t be done, it’s in his hometown in Cleveland, so it is what it is, but at the same time, it’s one of them nights and to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Joe Calzaghe and other British fighters – Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch and many others – it’s just a massive achievement for me.
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“I’m over the moon to get it over the line and I’m looking to come and get the job done.”
If Cordina can get the job done at the CSU Wolstein Centre in July, he would emulate Calzaghe by becoming a two-weight world champion.
Since losing his IBF super-featherweight crown to Anthony Cacace in May 2024 – his only defeat in 19 professional fights – Cordina has already won twice in the heavier 135lb division.
After beating Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz to claim the vacant WBO global lightweight title in July last year, in December he dominated Gabriel Flores Jr for a unanimous victory on points in California.
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“I started my career off at lightweight and I think my first nine fights, my 10th fight was at super-feather,” added Cordina, who won British and Commonwealth titles at lightweight earlier in his career.
“I was just making the weight too easy, so we went down.
“As I’m getting older, your metabolism slows down a little, so it’s not as easy to make the weight. So I decided to move up.
“I feel very comfortable at lightweight and I think you’re going to see the best of me at lightweight, especially in the next couple of years. I think I’ll be in some very exciting fights.”
Joe Cordina became Wales’ 13th world champion when he stopped Kenichi Ogawa in the second round to take the IBF super-featherweight title in June 2022 [Getty Images]
Cordina may be looking forward to the prospect of returning to America for a second Stateside contest in eight months, but he is enjoying spending more time with family since settling his life back in his own home city of Cardiff.
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Having trained in Sheffield as an amateur, and with Tony Simms in Brentwood at the started of his professional career, in 2025 he returned to south Wales to work with Gary Lockett at Cardiff’s Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club.
“I missed all my early adult years,” said Cordina.
“I missed my 18th birthday, my 21st, my 30th, just from travelling back and forth to Sheffield. Then when I turned pro I was up in Essex, so I almost missed all three of my kids’ births. Then all their first birthdays I missed, and I missed many of their birthdays along the way.
“The sacrifice kept me hungry but I just think at this present moment in my career, my life, I think mentally it’s a lot better for me to be at home and I know the game inside and out now.
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“I just need someone to guide me in the right direction, I think Gary Lockett’s the right man to do it.”
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