Joe Cordina returns to lightweight on Catterall-Eubank undercard

Joe Cordina will make a return to lightweight as he takes on Mexico's Jaret Gonzalez on the undercard of Jack Catterall's bout against Harlem Eubank on Saturday 5th July.

Cordina hasn't stepped inside the ring since he relinquished his IBF junior lightweight title to Anthony Cacace in a surprise defeat in May 2024.

The Welshman had been scheduled to face Shakur Stevenson at 135-pounds in October last year, only for the American to withdraw from the contest after sustaining a shoulder injury.

In what will be his first fight in a new deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, Cordina will now officially return to lightweight, a weight class which saw him claim British and Commonwealth titles.

A bronze medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Cordina rose to prominence when he became European amateur champion in 2015 and the Cardiff native soon began to make inroads on the professional scene.

In June 2022, Cordina stunned Kenichi Ogawa with a second-round knockout to take the IBF super-featherweight title in just his 15th professional fight.

Unable to defend his belt following a hand injury, Cordina was stripped of his title but reclaimed it with a valiant success over Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov by unanimous decision in April 2023.

He successfully defended his the super-featherweight belt against Edward Vazquez before he was conquered by Cacace 13 months ago.

Cordina's bout with Gonzalez will be chief support to the Catterall-Eubank showdown at Manchester's AO Arena.

24-year-old Gonzalez flaunts an identical 17-1 record to Cordina, albeit against inferior opponents in comparison to the calibre of fighters the former IBF super-featherweight champion has faced.

Gonzalez (17-1, 13 KOs) turned professional at 16 and has been victorious in his last five outings.

Jaquob Crooke

• Matchroom
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