The 34-year-old was due to fight Abdullah Mason in Cleveland next month
Boxer Joe Cordina made the announcement on Instagram(Image: Instagram)
Joe Cordina says he is “absolutely gutted” to have been forced to pull out of a WBO lightweight title fight after being denied a visa to enter the United States.
The Welsh former super-featherweight world champion had been due to take on Abdullah Mason in Cleveland on Saturday, July 4. However, the 34-year-old has said on social media that the United States embassy in London turned down his visa application.
“Just to let everyone know that I’m not going to fight,” Cordina said on Instagram.
“It’s not injuries, I’ve seen a lot of [reports] saying injuries, but there’s no injuries. I’ve had a great camp. I was meant to fly over this week.
“A couple of days back, I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically denied me a visa. I tried to explain certain things and I had all the paperwork to back it up and they wasn’t having it. They basically told me, ‘you ain’t getting in.’
“It’s out of my hands and I’m absolutely gutted to become a three-time, two-weight world champion, plus fight for a world title in America was a goal of mine.
“Feel bad for Abdullah, but obviously myself as well.”
Cordina had been due to fly out to the US next week to put the final touches on his preparation, ahead of challenging for Mason’s WBO lightweight title.
However, it is just another setback for the Welshman, who had been hoping to become a two-weight world champion.
The 2016 Olympian was previously stripped of his IBF 130lbs title in 2022 when injury ruled him out of a mandatory defence against Shavkat Rakhimov.
He would regain the belt, the following year, when he outpointed Rakhimov over 12 rounds.
The bout in Cleveland would have been Cordina’s first shot at a world title since he lost that title to Anthony Cacace in 2024 – following a shock defeat that remains the only defeat of his professional career.
Since then, the Cardiff boxer has beaten Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz to claim the vacant WBO global lightweight title.
Mason, who had won the title back in November by beating Britain’s Sam Noakes on points, is now reportedly set to fight Albert Bell.
The shot at Mason would have been the Welshman’s first world title action since he lost that title again via an upset loss to Anthony Cacace in 2024.