Cordina revealed the news on Instagram, ending his hopes of challenging Mason for the title at the Wolstein Center.
“Just to let everyone know that I’m not going to fight,” Cordina said. “It’s not injuries, I’ve seen a lot of (reports) saying injuries, but there are no injuries. I had a great camp. I was meant to fly over this week.”
The former two-time IBF super featherweight champion said he recently attended an appointment at the US Embassy in London but was refused entry despite bringing supporting documentation.
“A few days back I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically refused me a visa,” Cordina said. “I tried to explain certain things and I had all the paperwork to back it up and they didn’t have it. They basically told me, ‘you’re not coming in’.”
“It’s out of my hands, and I’m absolutely tired of becoming a three-time, two-weight world champion, and fighting for a world title in America has been a goal of mine.”
With Cordina out, Bell, 28-0 (9 KOs), agreed to step in on short notice for his first world title opportunity. The Toledo native was preparing for an IBF lightweight title eliminator against Andy Cruz on July 18 before receiving the call to face Mason.
Bell enters the fight ranked no. 6 by the WBO and will now challenge Mason, 20-0 (17 KOs), in an all-Ohio bout. Mason won the WBO lightweight title in November with a win over Sam Noakes and will make the first defense of his championship in front of his hometown fans.
Bell’s move leaves Cruz without an opponent for the July 18 eliminator. Promoters are reportedly looking for a replacement opponent for the Cuban contender, with the winner expected to move into position for a shot at IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla.
