Former world champion Joe Cordina has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming WBO lightweight title fight against Abdullah Mason after being denied entry into the United States.
The Welsh boxer had been scheduled to challenge unbeaten American Mason for the world title on 4 July in Cleveland, Ohio. However, Cordina revealed that the US Embassy in London rejected his visa application, preventing him from travelling for the bout.
In a video shared on social media, the 34-year-old said he attended an interview at the embassy earlier this week and attempted to provide supporting documentation, but officials refused his application. Cordina described the outcome as devastating, saying the fight represented a chance to become a three-time world champion across two weight divisions and fulfil his ambition of competing for a world title in the United States.
Cordina previously held the IBF super-featherweight title before losing it to Anthony Cacace in May 2024. Since moving up to the lightweight division, he has won two consecutive fights and was preparing for the biggest opportunity of his comeback.
With Cordina unable to compete, undefeated Ohio native Albert Bell has stepped in as Mason’s replacement. Bell owns a perfect 28-0 professional record and had originally been preparing for an IBF lightweight title eliminator later in July. Instead, he will now challenge for Mason’s WBO belt in front of a home-state crowd.
The late change means Mason’s first defence of the title he captured from Sam Noakes will still go ahead, but against a new opponent after Cordina’s hopes of returning to world championship level were ended by travel restrictions rather than events inside the ring.