Report: Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina headed to Cleveland
Apr 6, 2026 • 4:22 PM ET
Leigh Dawney / Queensberry PromotionsNew WBO lightweight titleholder Abdullah Mason is in negotiations for a first title defense in June versus top-rated contender Joe Cordina.
The Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger first reported the development that would place the Top Rank-promoted card in Mason’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, on July 4, following the 22-year-old’s vacant title victory over England’s Sam Noakes in November in Saudi Arabia.
DAZN will stream the card when finalized.
The left-handed Mason, 20-0 (17 KOs), has been on a rapid ascent since his November 2021 pro debut.
In Wales’ Cordina, 19-1 ( 9KOs), Mason meets a recent IBF junior lightweight titleholder who lost his belt to Anthony Cacace in 2024.
The 34-year-old Cordina rallied with unanimous decision triumphs last year over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Garbriel Flores Jnr.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
