Manchester: Former IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina is set to return to the ring on 5 July, stepping up to lightweight to face Mexico’s Jaret Gonzalez. The fight will take place at the AO Arena in Manchester on the undercard of Jack Catterall vs Harlem Eubank.
Cordina, 33, has been out of action since a surprising defeat to Anthony Cacace in May 2024, where he lost his IBF title. Before that, Cordina had made one successful title defence after reclaiming the belt in April 2023.
Cordina was initially scheduled to face WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson in October, but his plans were derailed when Stevenson withdrew due to a hand injury. The Welsh fighter is returning to a weight division where he previously held British and Commonwealth titles.
Cordina’s 24-year-old Gonzalez opponent holds a 17-1 record with 13 knockouts, comparable to Cordina’s 17-1 (9 KOs). However, Gonzalez has not competed at the same elite level. Cordina will prepare for the fight in South Wales with longtime trainer Gary Lockett.
Cordina, who once fought alongside Anthony Joshua on Team GB and competed at the Olympics, became Wales’ 13th world boxing champion in 2022 by defeating Kenichi Ogawa. Though he was stripped of the title due to injury and inactivity, he won it back against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.
Now entering a new promotional phase after his previous Matchroom deal expired, this bout marks his first fight under a renewed agreement with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Following the announcement, Cordina simply posted on social media, “Baby, I’m back,” signalling confidence ahead of his comeback.
