Abdullah Mason will defend title against Joe Cordina in Cleveland
The youngest world champion in boxing is set to make his first defense as WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason will face Joe Cordina on July 4th in Mason’s hometown of Cleveland Ohio. It will be held at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center, and broadcast live on TNT and DAZN co-exclusively in the US and on DAZN Worldwide.
“July 4th is the homecoming that my brothers and I have been anticipating since before we turned pro,” Mason said. “I’m ready to experience all of my city’s support in one building, and I have an appetite for smoke. So if you love boxing and you’re ready for some smoke, then the Wolstein on July 4th is the place to be.”
Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) will be coming home after winning the WBO title by decision over Sam Noakes last November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It capped off a banner year where he defeated Manuel Jaimes, Carlos Ornelas, and Jeremiah Nakathila before capturing the title.
The 21 year old had five fights in 2024, including a bout against against Yohan Vasquez which produced the Boxing Source Round of the Year. Mason is one of the top fighters in the division while only being a pro for under five years.
Cordina (19-1, 9 KOs) is a former champion in the super featherweight division and aims to become a two division champion in his third bout at lightweight. He won the IBF title at 130 with a win over Kenichi Ogawa and had two defenses before losing to Anthony Cacace in 2024. In his campaign at lightweight, Cordina has beaten Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jr. with the latter taking palce in Flores’ hometown. Now the 2016 Olympian looks to play the spoiler once again as he challenges Mason on July 4th.
“This is a massive test for me, but this it’s one that I’m more than capable of coming through with flying colors. Abdullah Mason is a very good fighter, and he’s going to do big things in boxing, but I’m going to mess up the homecoming. I’m looking to come over, rip the title away from him, and take it back to the U.K. It’s a massive fight for boxing, and I’m looking to become a three-time, two-weight world champion.”
In the co-feature bout, WBC featherweight champion Bruce Carrington will defend his title against Rene Palacios. Carrington (17-0, 10 KOs) is coming off of a knockout win over Carlos Castro in New York on January 31st to win the title. The native of Brownsville, Brooklyn has been a pro for four years and scored wins over Jose Enrique Vivas and Mateus Heita last year before becoming a world champion.
Carrington is excited to defend the WBC title on July 4th. “The Shu Shu Show is coming to Ohio for the first title defense! It’s The Shu World Order!”
Palacios (19-0-1, 10 KOs) hails from Chihuahua, Mexico and the 25 year old had fought in his home country up until January 30th when he defeated Sulaiman Segawa by decision in Maryland. Now he gets a shot to be a world champion.
“I’m very excited because, thank God, I now have the opportunity to fight for a world title,” Palacios said. “I’m not going to let this opportunity slip away. I made a promise to my mother that one day I would become a world champion, and I’m going to keep it.”
Welterweight contender Tiger Johnson will also be fighting on this card against Christopher Guerrero in a 10-round bout. Johnson (17-0, 8 KOs) is a 2020 US Olympian and is also from Cleveland. His last bout was an impressive knockout victory over Nicklaus Flaz to be ranked in the WBO and IBF.
“I’ve been waiting to fight at home for years, and I can’t wait to show out on July 4th,” Johnson said. “Cleveland knows what I bring every time I step in the ring, and this is my moment to put my stamp on the city. I’m ready to represent the 216 and let everybody know who the next world champion from Cleveland is going to be.”
Guerrero (16-0, 9 KOs) won four times last year with two of those wins by knockout. The 25 year old Mexican now resides in Montreal and will fight for the first time in US soil.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life. It’s long overdue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to collect a paycheck. I’m here to take what’s mine.”
This card will also include lightweight Deric “Scooter” Davis who will be taking on Carlos Ramos in a bout scheduled for eight rounds. Davis (11-0, 10 KOs) signed with Top Rank in 2025, and was the Boxing Source Prospect of the Year with four knockout wins. His last bout was April 25th in Baltimore defeating Moises Garcia. Ramos (18-4-1, 10 KOs) is a 10 year veteran from Spain who has been in the ring against Henry Lebron and Jazza Dickens.
More details of this fight card will be provided in the next few weeks.
Photos by James Bell for The Boxing Source
