Former Champion Joe Cordina Reasserts Himself With Commanding Win Over Gabe Flores

A Statement Made on Hostile Ground

Joe Cordina arrived in Stockton, California, knowing the task in front of him would demand more than skill alone. Fighting in Gabe Flores’ hometown, on a Matchroom Boxing card packed with local support, the former junior lightweight champion understood that only a clear, authoritative performance would remove all doubt. On Saturday night at Adventist Health Arena, Cordina delivered exactly that.

Over twelve rounds, the 34-year-old Welshman outboxed, outworked, and outthought Flores, earning a unanimous decision victory that was far more decisive than the scorecards suggested. More importantly, the win firmly repositioned Cordina among the elite contenders in the lightweight division and placed him on a collision course with newly crowned WBO champion Abdullah Mason.

Control From the Opening Bell

From the opening round, Cordina made his intentions clear. He established a sharp, disciplined jab that set the tempo and disrupted Flores’ rhythm early. Rather than rushing forward recklessly, Cordina applied calculated pressure, cutting off the ring and forcing Flores to operate in tight spaces.

Flores, known for his toughness and willingness to trade, struggled to find clean openings. Each time he attempted to plant his feet and throw combinations, Cordina was either a step ahead defensively or countering with precise shots to the head and body. The Welshman’s footwork and ring IQ immediately separated the two fighters.

Breaking Down the Numbers

While the judges returned scores of 117-110, 115-112, and 114-113, the action inside the ring painted a much clearer picture. Cordina outlanded Flores in every round, according to CompuBox statistics, finishing with a commanding 199 punches landed out of 646 thrown. Flores, by comparison, connected on just 102 of 496 attempts.

The numbers reflected what was visible throughout the bout: Cordina’s punches were cleaner, more frequent, and more damaging. His commitment to body work paid dividends as the fight progressed, gradually draining Flores’ energy and limiting his ability to mount sustained offense.

A Brief Moment of Adversity

The fight was not entirely without danger for Cordina. In the seventh round, Flores landed a sharp uppercut that briefly buckled Cordina’s knees and forced him to retreat. It was Flores’ best moment of the contest and drew a roar from the partisan crowd.

Cordina responded with composure rather than panic. He clinched when necessary, reset his feet, and quickly reestablished control behind his jab. The moment passed without lasting consequence, serving more as a reminder of Flores’ grit than a true turning point in the fight.

Discipline and Experience Take Over

As the bout entered the championship rounds, the difference in experience became increasingly evident. Flores had never fought past the tenth round, and the physical toll began to show. His output slowed, his footwork flattened, and his punches lost snap.

Cordina, meanwhile, looked comfortable and composed. He increased his activity, particularly in the tenth and eleventh rounds, where his conditioning and veteran instincts shone through. In the tenth, he outlanded Flores by a wide margin, and in the eleventh, he stunned Flores with a clean right hand that forced him to survive the closing moments on unsteady legs.

A Point Deduction, But No Doubt

Cordina was docked a point in the sixth round for rabbit punching, a rare lapse in an otherwise disciplined performance. While the deduction narrowed the margin on the scorecards, it did little to change the narrative of the fight. Cordina remained in command before and after the incident, dictating the pace and geography of the ring.

“I got the win, but it wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to do it,” Cordina said afterward. “You can’t come in and nick a fight off of me. I kept applying pressure and forced him to the ropes, and he couldn’t keep up with the pace.”

What the Win Means for Cordina

With the victory, Cordina improved his record to 19-1 with 9 knockouts and is expected to emerge as the WBO’s No. 1 contender. That position would make him the mandatory challenger for Abdullah Mason, who recently claimed the lightweight title.

The win also marked another successful step in Cordina’s transition to the 135-pound division. After holding and defending the IBF title at 130 pounds, his career took a setback with a TKO loss to Anthony Cacace in July 2024. Saturday’s performance suggested that Cordina has not only recovered from that defeat but has matured into a more complete fighter.

A Tough Night for Gabe Flores

For Flores, the loss was another difficult chapter in his attempts to break through at the highest level. Now 27-3, with previous defeats against Luis Alberto Lopez and Giovanni Cabrera, Flores once again found himself outmatched when stepping up in competition.

Despite moments of bravery and a willingness to engage, Flores struggled to cope with Cordina’s relentless rhythm and tactical discipline. As the fight wore on, his lack of experience in deep waters became evident, and the elusive knockout he needed in the final round never materialized.

Looking Ahead

Joe Cordina left California with more than just a win. He left with momentum, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose. In a division stacked with youth, speed, and power, Cordina reminded everyone that experience, patience, and precision still matter.

If this performance is any indication, Cordina’s pursuit of another world title is not a nostalgic comeback story—it is a serious, calculated campaign. And with Abdullah Mason now firmly in his sights, the lightweight division has been put on notice.