Joe Cordina


Joe Cordina is a Welsh professional boxer. He is a two-time super-featherweight world champion, having held the International Boxing Federation title between 2022 and 2024.
As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2015 European Championships, both in the lightweight division. He also represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Early life

Cordina is of Maltese heritage.

Amateur career

At the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, he lost in the first round of the 2011 [World Amateur Boxing Championships – Lightweight|lightweight event] to Eugen Burhard of Germany by a score of 7–13. In 2012, Cordina won a bronze medal at the European Under-22 Boxing Championships held in Russia. He defeated German boxer Artur Bril in his quarterfinal bout before losing 13–12 to Russian Maksim Shmiglev in the semi-finals. He was eliminated from the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships after losing his first bout in the 2013 [AIBA World Boxing Championships – Lightweight|lightweight event] to Lázaro Álvarez of Cuba. At the 2012 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament, he was eliminated after his bout against David Joyce of Ireland was stopped in the third round.
He represented Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland. Competing in the Boxing at the [2014 Commonwealth Games – Lightweight|men's lightweight division], he defeated Pat McCormack of England in the first round, then Canada's David Gauthier in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals he defeated Chad Milnes of New Zealand, guaranteeing himself at least a bronze medal. He lost his semi-final to Scotland's Charlie Flynn by a split judge's decision and was eliminated from the tournament, to finish with a bronze medal.
Cordina won the lightweight gold medal at the 2015 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, beating Otan Eranosyan of Georgia in the final. He was the only British boxer to win a gold medal at the event. At the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships held in Doha, Qatar, he reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 AIBA [World Boxing Championships – Lightweight|lightweight division] by beating Kwon Chol-guk of North Korea in the round of 16, but was then eliminated after losing to Robson Conceição of Brazil.
He boxed at the 2016 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament in Samsun, Turkey. He secured qualification for the Boxing at the [2016 Summer Olympics – Men's lightweight|lightweight event] at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by beating David Joyce, who had eliminated him from the 2012 Olympic qualification tournament, in the semi-finals.

Professional career

Early career

Joe Cordina made his professional debut as a super-featherweight on 22 April 2017 at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, scoring a fourth-round technical knockout victory over José Aguilar in a scheduled four round contest. Cordina next faced Sergej Vib on 29 April 2017, on the Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko undercard. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Cordina faced Josh Thorne on 27 May 2017, in his third professional bout. He won it by a first-round stoppage, as Thorne retired at the end of the opening round. Cordina faced Jamie Speight on 1 September 2017, and extended his winning streak to four fights. Cordina faced Lester Cantillano on 28 October 2017 on the Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam undercard. He won the fight on points, which was the first decision victory of his professional career. Cordina faced Lee Connelly on 13 December 2017, in his final fight of the year. He won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout.
Cordina was booked to face Hakim Ben Ali for the vacant WBA International lightweight title on 31 March 2018, on the Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker undercard. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.

British and Commonwealth champion

Cordina vs. Dodd

Cordina made his first regional title defense against Sean Dodd on 4 August 2018, in a fight which was simultaneously a bout for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title as well. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 117–112, 119–109 and 120–109.

Cordina vs. Townend

Cordina faced Andy Townend on 20 April 2019 in his first Commonwealth title defense. The vacant British lightweight title was on the line as well. He won the fight by a sixth-round technical knockout.

Cordina vs. Gwynne

Cordina made the first defense of the British and Commonwealth titles on 31 August 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 116–110, 116–111 and 116–110.

Rise up the ranks

Cordina was scheduled to fight Enrique Tinoco for the vacant WBA Continental super-featherweight title on 30 November 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 98–92 in his favor, while the third judge scored it 96–94 for him.
Cordina faced Faroukh Kourbanov on 20 March 2021, following a 16-month absence from the sport. He won the fight by a close majority decision, with scores of 96–95, 96–96 and 98–93.
Cordina next faced Joshuah Hernandez on 14 August 2021. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, stopping Hernandez after just 53 seconds.
Cordina made his first WBA Continental title defense against Miko Khatchatryan on 11 December 2021, over two years after he had won it. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 98–92 for him, while the third judge scored it 100–90 in his favor.

IBF super-featherweight champion

Cordina vs. Ogawa

Cordina knocked out Kenichi Ogawa in the second round to become the IBF super featherweight champion on 4 June 2022, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cordina's native Cardiff, Wales.
Cordina was next scheduled to defend his belt against Shavkat Rakhimov on 5 November 2022. Due to a hand injury, Cordina had to pull out of the fight and was subsequently stripped of his IBF belt.

Cordina vs. Rakhimov

On 22 April 2023, at the Cardiff International Arena, Cordina defeated Shavkat Rahimov by split decision to regain the IBF super featherweight title.

Cordina vs. Vazquez

On 4 November 2023 in Monte Carlo, Monaco, Cordina made the first defense of his IBF super featherweight title against Edward Vazquez, with Cordina winning by majority decision.

Cordina vs. Cacace

On 18 May 2024, on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Cordina lost his IBF super featherweight title via eighth-round TKO against Anthony Cacace.

Step-up to lightweight

Cancelled bout with Shakur Stevenson

Cordina was scheduled to challenge WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 12 October 2024 on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol. On 11 September 2024, it was announced that Stevenson had suffered a hand injury and the fight was cancelled.

Cordina vs. Quiroz

On 5 July 2025, at the AO Arena in Manchester, Cordina returned from a 14 month absence to defeat Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz by unanimous decision, and claim the vacant WBO Global lightweight title.

Cordina vs. Flores Jr.

Cordina defeated Gabriel Flores Jr. via unanimous decision at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California, USA, on 13 December 2025.

Personal life

Cordina has a daughter, born in 2015.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
20Win19–1Gabriel Flores Jr.UD1213 Dec 2025Stockton Arena, Stockton, California, U.SWon WBO International lightweight title
19Win18–1Jaret Gonzalez QuirozUD105 Jul 2025Manchester Arena, Manchester, EnglandWon vacant WBO Global lightweight title
18Loss17–1Anthony CacaceTKO8, 0:3918 May 2024Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaLost IBF super-featherweight title;
For IBO super-featherweight title
17Win17–0Edward VazquezMD124 Nov 2023Casino de Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo, MonacoRetained IBF super-featherweight title
16Win16–0Shavkat Rakhimov1222 Apr 2023Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, WalesWon IBF super-featherweight title
15Win15–0Kenichi OgawaKO2, 1:154 Jun 2022Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, WalesWon IBF super-featherweight title
14Win14–0Miko KhatchatryanUD1011 Dec 2021Echo Arena, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBA Continental super-featherweight title
13Win13–0Joshuah Hernandez1, 0:5314 Aug 2021Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, England
12Win12–0Faroukh Kourbanov1020 Mar 2021The SSE Arena, London, England
11Win11–0Enrique TinocoUD1030 Nov 2019Casino de Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo, MonacoWon vacant WBA Continental super-featherweight title
10Win10–0Gavin GwynneUD1231 Aug 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained British and Commonwealth lightweight titles
9Win9–0Andy TownendTKO6, 2:5120 Apr 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained Commonwealth lightweight title;
Won vacant British lightweight title
8Win8–0Sean Dodd124 Aug 2018Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, WalesRetained WBA International lightweight title;
Won vacant list of [Commonwealth Boxing Council champions#Lightweight|Commonwealth lightweight title]
7Win7–0Hakim Ben AliTKO3, 2:4131 Mar 2018Principality Stadium, Cardiff, WalesWon vacant WBA International lightweight title
6Win6–0Lee ConnellyTKO4, 2:1913 Dec 2017York Hall, London, England
5Win5–0Lester Cantillano428 Oct 2017Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
4Win4–0Jamie SpeightTKO1, 2:281 Sep 2017York Hall, London, England
3Win3–0Josh Thorne1, 3:0027 May 2017Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
2Win2–0Sergej VibTKO1, 1:5929 Apr 2017Wembley Stadium, London, England
1Win1–0Jose Aguilar4, 2:1722 Apr 2017Echo Arena, Liverpool, England