Welsh boxer Joe Cordina is set to fight Abdullah Mason for the WBO Lightweight Title on July 4th in Cleveland, Ohio.

The fight is Mason’s first first in his hometown of Cleveland, and he faces The Ring‘s number 10 ranked former world champion Cordina.

The Welsh challenger lost his IBF featherweight championship belt to Anthony Cacace in May 2024 in a shock defeat, and has since taken the step up to the lightweight division.

That Cacace fight remains the only defeat of Cordina’s career, having won twice in 2025 since that loss.

The 34-year-old defeated Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz on his comeback in July 2025, and Gabriel Flores Jr in December in California.

In beating Quiroz, Cordina secured the WBO Global Lightweight title, while he was dominant against Flores on the American’s home turf.

Mason will have home advantage for the first defence of the belt he won in an epic encounter with Sam Noakes in November 2025, with Cordina’s challenge to be staged at CSU Wolstein Centre in Cleveland.

“This is a massive test for me, but this it’s one that I’m more than capable of coming through with flying colours,” Cordina said.

“Abdullah Mason is a very good fighter, and he’s going to do big things in boxing, but I’m going to mess up the homecoming.

“I’m looking to come over, rip the title away from him, and take it back to the U.K. It’s a massive fight for boxing, and I’m looking to become a three-time, two-weight world champion.”

“July 4th is the homecoming that my brothers and I have been anticipating since before we turned pro,” Mason said.

“I’m ready to experience all of my city’s support in one building, and I have an appetite for smoke.”

“Abdullah is a tremendous talent and a real star for the future, but Joe has been there, done it and got the t-shirt,” Cordina’s promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, added.

“Joe showed in California that he’s not afraid to fight in hostile territory and that he still has plenty left in the tank at the top level, and this is a massive chance for him to become a two-weight world champion.”

Cordina boasts a 19-1 record, with 9 knockout victories, while the 22-year-old Mason is 20-0, with 17 TKOs.

Mason is boxing’s youngest world champion.

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