Joe Cordina will make his boxing return after 13 months away from the ring when he fights Jaret Gonzalez on July 5 in Manchester.

The 33-year-old former IBF super-featherweight champion has not been in the ring in over a year since he lost his title to Anthony Cacace in Saudi Arabia in May 2024.

Cordina’s return to lightweight – where he won British and Commonwealth titles earlier in his career – will come on the undercard of Jack Catterall against Harlem Eubank at Manchester’s AO Arena.

The Welsh boxer had been due to make his comeback against Shakur Stevenson in October, but the WBC lightweight champion pulled out with a hand injury.

Responding to the announcement on social media, Cordina posted: “Baby I’m back.”

Gonzalez, 24, has a 17-1 record in a career that includes 13 KOs, similar to the Welshman’s 17-1 (9 KOs), although not at the same level as Cordina – who has moved back to south Wales and will train for the fight with Gary Lockett.

Cardiff’s Cordina was a decorated amateur boxer who fought at an Olympics and in the same Team GB programme as his friend Anthony Joshua.

He won bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and was European amateur champion in 2015.

It will also be the first fight in a new deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.

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