WBO lightweight title: Joe Cordina vs Abdullah Mason fight off – Welshman cites visa issues

Joe Cordina’s WBO lightweight title fight against American Abdullah Mason has been called off with the Welshman saying he has been refused entry to the US.

Cordina, 34, a former super-featherweight world champion from Wales, was scheduled to fight Mason on Saturday, July 4 in Cleveland.

But Cordina says the US embassy in London has rejected her visa application.

In a social media post, Cordina said: “I was supposed to go to the US this week. A few days ago I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically refused to give me a visa.

“I tried to explain some things, and I had all the paperwork to back it up, and they didn’t have it.

“They basically told me you’re not getting in, so it’s up to me.

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

Cordina added that he “feels bad” for Mason and denied suggestions he was hurt.

“I’ve seen a lot of talk about injuries, and this, and no injuries,” Cordina said.

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

Cardiff’s Cordina hoped to become a two-weight world champion.

He lost his IBF 130lb world title in May 2024, a shock loss to Anthony Cacas, the only defeat of his 19-fight professional career.

He defeated Jarrett Gonzalez Queiroz to claim the vacant WBO global lightweight title before dominating Gabriel Flores Jr in California en route to a unanimous points victory in December 2025.

Cordina won the British and Commonwealth titles at lightweight early in his career, was a decorated amateur boxer who fought at one Olympics and in the same Team GB program as his friend Anthony Joshua.