Cordina Beats Flores Jr. by Unanimous Decision in WBO Eliminator

Joe Cordina secured a unanimous decision victory over hometown favorite Gabriel Flores Jr. on Saturday night at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California, positioning himself as the top contender for the WBO lightweight title.

The judges scored the 12-round bout 117-110, 115-112, and 114-113 in favor of the 34-year-old Welsh fighter, who improved his professional record to 19-1 with nine knockouts. Flores, a 25-year-old from Stockton, dropped to 27-3 with eight knockouts, ending a six-fight winning streak. The win marked Cordina's second victory at lightweight since moving up from super featherweight, where he previously held the IBF title.

Cordina controlled much of the fight, applying relentless pressure and forcing Flores to the ropes throughout. CompuBox statistics showed Cordina landing 199 of 646 punches thrown, compared to Flores' 102 of 496. A brief scare came in the seventh round when an uppercut from Flores buckled Cordina's knees, but he recovered quickly and resumed dominance. The only interruption was a point deduction for Cordina in the sixth round due to rabbit punching, though it did not alter the outcome.

Speaking after the fight, Cordina expressed...