Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina to be announced for July 4 in Cleveland
May 4, 2026 • 3:12 PM ET
Leigh Dawney / Queensberry PromotionsAbdullah Mason’s first WBO lightweight title defense, against Wales’ Joe Cordina, is being finalized for Cleveland’s Rocket Arena on July 4.
Mason won the vacant title in an entertaining contest against Sam Noakes of England in November, and it is Cordina – the former IBF junior lightweight titleholder – who will travel to fight him in his hometown.
The 22-year-old Mason is widely recognized as one of the world’s most promising fighters. His being matched with Cordina, 34, at the home of the NBA team the Cleveland Cavaliers is in part a reflection of his promoter Top Rank recently agreeing a broadcast deal with DAZN, the long-term broadcast partner of Matchroom, which has long guided Cordina.
Cordina lost his title in a stoppage defeat by Anthony Cacace in May 2024, but has since rebuilt via two victories at lightweight, over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jnr, under his new trainer Gary Lockett. It was reported at the start of April that he was in negotiations to fight Mason.
Noakes, incidentally, returned to the ring on Sunday evening when he defeated Mexicos Benito Sanchez Garcia inside two rounds.
Declan Warrington has been writing about boxing for the British and Irish national newspapers since 2010. He is also a long-term contributor to Boxing News, Boxing News Presents and Talksport, and formerly the boxing correspondent for the Press Association, a pundit for BoxNation and a regular contributor to Boxing Monthly, Sport and The Ring, among other publications. In 2023, he conducted the interviews and wrote the script for the audio documentary “Froch-Groves: The Definitive Story”; he is also a member of the BWAA.
