Joe Cordina secured victory over American Gabriel Flores Jr by unanimous decision in Stocktown on Sunday morning, setting himself up for a World Title shot in the lightweight division.

Cordina, a former IBF super-featherweight title holder completely outboxed Flores Jr, with the judges scoring the bout 117-110, 115-112, 114-113.

The fight at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton was billed as a final eliminator for the WBO lightweight world title which was won by Abdullah Mason in an epic encounter with Sam Noakes in November.

Cordina was docked a point in the sixth round for illegal punching, but was more in control than the judges’ cards suggested.

“I got the win, but it wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to do it,” said Cordina.

“You can’t come in and nick a fight off me. I kept applying pressure and forced him to the ropes, and he couldn’t keep up with the pace.”

Travelling to Flores Jr’s hometown, Cordina silenced the partisan crowd with swift, accurate punches. A second win in six months since stepping up to the lightweight division, the Welshman now has his sights set on a second shot at a belt.

The Welshman set the tone early, pressing forward against the 24-year-old Flores. Still, Flores proved to be an elusive target and a tough customer in an ugly, physical fight.

In the second round, Flores landed a flurry that elicited roars from the crowd, and Cordina lost a point in the round for hitting behind the head.

But Cordina was relentless. He spent the majority of the fight coming forward and targeting Flores’ body.

The championship rounds summed up the bout as both fighters landed blows and emotions peaked. In the 11th, Cordina, who continued to try mauling his opponent, fired off an onslaught of punches that Flores absorbed and managed to withstand all the way through the final bell.

Cordina now boasts a professional record of 19 wins and one defeat (with nine KOs), his only loss coming to Anthony Cacace in May 2024 when he lost his 130lb title in Riyadh.

Flores, 25, did give the Cardiff-born fighter a scare in round seven with an uppercut that buckled his knees, but the American saw a six-fight winning steak ended to slip to 27-3 (eight KOs).

Cordina, who went into his first bout in America ranked number six by the WBO, should now emerge as their number one contender and mandatory challenger to Mason.

At 34, the former two-time super featherweight world champion believes his window of opportunity is nearing shut, so he did not hesitate to confirm the 135-pound titleholder in his sights.

“One-hundred percent,” Cordina told DAZN’s live coverage, confirming his interest to challenge WBO lightweight world champion Abdullah Mason next year.

“I’m 34 years of age, I only got a couple of years left so I want to make sure every fight counts. These big fights are the ones I want.”

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes Cordina challenging Mason would thrill fans.

“That’s a hell of a fight,” Hearn said to DAZN. “Let’s go straight into that fight March or April, Cleveland, Cardiff, wherever they want to do it.”

Returning to Cardiff would be the dream for Cordina, who won his IBF super-featherweight title against Kenichi Ogawa with a stunning second round knock-out at the Motorpoint (now Utilita) Arena in his hometown.

Part of the Welsh boxer’s ‘reset’ after losing to Anthony Cacace in 2024 was returning home to train under legendary boxer and trainer Gary Lockett.

The canvas in the ring at the gym is the one on which he beat Ogawa with a thunderous second round knockout in 2022.

“I didn’t even know they had the canvas here until I came into the gym,” said the Cardiff-born fighter.

“I would have loved a chance to buy it, maybe put it in a gym that I eventually get and run, but they’ve got it and I’m training here, can’t complain.”

Cordina says the other fighters in the gym are great motivation too.

“For me coming in this gym, seeing this canvas and seeing the boys around me, it’s a bit of a lift to know they’re training alongside a world champion,” he added.

“You’ve got a world title challenger Liam Williams also in the gym and Rhys Edwards who should be challenging for a British title very soon. You had Ben Crocker who’s won an IBF European title too so we’ve got a good little stable.”

Now moving towards the latter stage of his career, Cordina says everyone has different goals in their boxing life.

“Mine was winning a world title,” he added.

“Boxing is a hard old sport and to get to a British title let alone a world title. Fortunately for me, I had a good amateur career that gave me a head start in the pros. I put the leg work in in the amateurs to get to my goals.”

Cordina won a European title in 2015 and fought at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games before turning professional.

“I set not unrealistic goals, and I met every single one as an amateur then set new goals as a pro but the main one for me was always winning a world title,” he said.

“I realise to get there you’ve got to make those little ones in between so British, commonwealth, WBAs and internationals and intercontinental, all of those titles and then a shot for a world title.”

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