Joe Cordina is out of his July 4 world title fight against Abdullah Mason after being denied a US visa. Unbeaten Ohio contender Albert Bell will now challenge Mason for the WBO lightweight title in Cleveland, creating an all-Ohio championship matchup.
The former two-time world champion’s withdrawal is not due to physical issues. Cordina made his status clear to dispel any incorrect reports about his condition. “Just to let everyone know that I’m not going to fight,” said Cordina. “It’s not injuries, I’ve seen a lot of [reports] saying injuries, but there’s no injuries. I’ve had a great camp. I was meant to fly over this week.”
The entire situation stems from an administrative roadblock. Cordina explained that his application for entry into the United States was rejected at the embassy in London, abruptly halting his title challenge. “A couple of days back, I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically denied me a visa,” he stated. “I tried to explain certain things and I had all the paperwork to back it up and they wasn’t having it. They basically told me, ‘you ain’t getting in.’”
The decision puts Cordina’s career ambitions on hold. The fight represented a chance to win a third world title and make his American debut. “It’s out of my hands and I’m absolutely gutted to become a three-time, two-weight world champion, plus fight for a world title in America was a goal of mine.”
With Cordina sidelined, Toledo’s Albert Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) gets a career-defining opportunity on short notice. He was originally preparing for an IBF lightweight title eliminator against Andy Cruz on July 18. Instead, he will now challenge Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) for the WBO belt in his opponent’s hometown. For Mason, this marks the first defense of the title he won against Sam Noakes in November, though now against a fellow Ohioan. The change leaves Cruz without an opponent, and his promoters are now searching for a replacement to keep the IBF eliminator on schedule.
