“To me, he looked good. I don’t think it was close like some people have told me. I don’t think it was close. He definitely won by a couple of rounds, but he definitely got hit,” Cordina told the InsideRingShow when discussing Mason’s win over Noakes.
Cordina has made it clear that he does not consider himself a comparable opponent to Noakes.
“No disrespect to Sam Noakes, I’m not Sam Noakes,” Cordina said. “I’m a lot faster than Sam Noakes. I’m a lot smarter than Sam Noakes. I’m not just going to push forward and just try to bully him. I’m going to use my boxing brain.”
The former two-time IBF super featherweight champion believes his experience at the highest level gives him advantages Mason has yet to face.
“I haven’t had 180 amateur fights and been to the Olympics and won a European medal. I’m one of six people in Britain ever to do that, and then win two world titles in 16 fights,” Cordina said. “I didn’t do all that because I don’t have a boxing brain, a good IQ and am an average fighter.”
Cordina (19-1, 9 KOs) achieved the #1 ranking in the WBO after moving up to lightweight and defeating Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz by 10-round unanimous decision in July 2025 and Gabriel Flores Jr. by a 12-round unanimous decision last December in Stockton, California.
The 22-year-old Mason enters the fight as the younger, more active fighter and will likely be favored by many heading into the July 4 showdown. Mason has stopped 17 of his 20 opponents and is considered by many to be one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
The fight for Cordina represents an opportunity to prove that experience, ring IQ and championship pedigree can still overcome youth and momentum. On July 4, he gets the chance to test that theory against one of boxing’s fastest-rising lightweights.
“I’m not Sam Noakes.” 👀
Joe Cordina says Abdullah Mason will get a different challenge this time.#InsideTheRing | Latest episode available on DAZN 📺 pic.twitter.com/l5DVgUYhOi
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) June 17, 2026
