Joe Cordina’s bout with Abdullah Mason has been called off due to the Welsh fighter being denied entry into the United States.

Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) will now defend his WBO lightweight title against Albert Bell at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, in a 12-round contest.

It remains to be seen what the next steps are for Cordina, who is now 34-years-old.

Wales’ former super-featherweight world champion Cordina had been due to take on Mason in Cleveland on Saturday, 4 July.

But Cordina says the United States embassy in London turned down his visa application.

“I was due to fly to the United States this week,” Cordina posted on social media.

“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 had all the paperwork to back it up, and they wasn’t having it.

“They just sort of basically told me you ain’t getting in, so it’s on my hands.

“Absolutely gutted, because it’s my chance to become a three time two-weight world champion, plus fight for a world title in America, which was a goal of mine.”

Cordina had been hoping to become a two-weight world champion.

The fight was set to be Mason’s first defence of the belt he won in an epic encounter with Sam Noakes in November 2025.

Mason’s new opponent – Albert Bell – had already been training with a date booked, July 18, for a bout with Andy Cruz in an IBF title eliminator in Carson, California. Instead, the 33-year-old Bell gets a title shot in his home state two weeks earlier after Cordina’s withdrawal.

If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.

Our podcast is back for the new season and our co-founder Alex Cuthbert is in charge! You can find all the episodes here or the video versions on our YouTube channel.

You can also keep track of our pieces and videos on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X or Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.