Joe Cordina vs Gabriel Flores Jr. Preview December 13th, 2025
Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Joe Cordina of Cardiff, Wales is back in action Saturday, December 13th to take on Gabriel Flores Jr. in Flores’ hometown of Stockton, California. The 12-rounder is being billed as a WBO lightweight eliminator with the WBO International Belt supposedly on the line as well and can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Cordina stopped Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in 2022, to win the IBF title but was stripped of it when he failed to meet Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov due to injury. Rakhimov then halted Zelfa Barrett in the ninth round to win the vacant title. Cordina eventually met Rakhimov in April, 2023 and edged him by split decision to regain the IBF Belt. He defended it by majority decision against Edward Vasquez in November, 2023 but was then stopped in the eighth round by IBO champion Anthony Cacace to lose the title in May, 2024. He sat out until this July when he returned with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jaret Quiroz to win the vacant WBO Global Lightweight Crown. Flores Jr. last fought in June when he beat Christian Arriola via a 10-round unanimous decision.
Cordina vs Flores Jr. Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Gabriel Flores Jr +230
- Joe Cordina -300
My Pick
The 34-year-old Cordina owns a fine record of 18-1 with 9 Ko’s and has boxed 123 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017. Before that he enjoyed a fine amateur career as he competed at the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships, the 2012 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament and the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships. He then won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a gold at the 2015 European Championships.
He also boxed at the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships where he was beaten by Robson Conceição and went 1-1 at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since turning pro, Cordina has also captured the WBA International, Commonwealth Boxing Council, and BBBoC British Lightweight Titles as well as the WBA Continental Super Featherweight Title.
Cordina measures 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 69-inch reach. He isn’t known as a knockout artist as 50 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s halted just one of his past five opponents. He’s gone the distance in eight of his last 12 fights but scored a sensational KO over Kenichi Ogawa. It came as a bit of a surprise to most fans as Cordina had never never taken on a legitimate world contender before meeting Ogawa, let alone a champion, as he had faced the likes of Jamie Speight, Hakim Ben Ali, Sean Dodd, Andy Townend, Mario Tinoco and Gavin Gwynne.
Flores Jr. is just 25 years old and climbs through the ropes with an impressive mark of 27-2 with 8 Ko’s and has 185 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 201y as a teenager. He enjoyed a successful amateur career as he won the 2016 USA Junior Olympics Tournament and made it to the semifinals in 2015. He also won the 2015 USA Junior National Championships. Flores measures 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 69.5-inch reach which means he’s the same height as Cordina and has a minimal half-inch edge in reach.
The first blemish on Flores’ pro record came back in 2021 when he dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Luis Alberto Lopez, who then went on to win the IBF World Featherweight Title. Two fights later, in 2022, Flores lost another wide 10-round unanimous decision when Giovanni Cabrera schooled him. since then, he’s won six straight fights and has victories over Jayson Velez and Abraham Montoya.
As far as power goes, it appears that Flores isn’t heavy-handed as just 29.6 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage. He’s gone the distance in five straight outings and has halted just two of his past 16 opponents. Like Cordina, his power shouldn’t be underestimated or taken lightly though as he has dropped several opponents in the pro ranks. It should also be noted that Flores is in possession of a pretty solid chin.
Prediction…
Cordina definitely surprised a lot of fans with his impressive wins over Ogawa and Rakhimov but he wasn’t as convincing against Vasquez and then Cacace stopped him. Flores doesn’t really have the power to deter Cordina from taking the fight to him but he does possess some fine boxing skills and a good chin. This is a really close call and there’s a good chance it goes the distance. If it does, it’s going to come down to whoever takes the initiative and lets his hands go from the opening bell. It would also be the first time Flores has gone 12 rounds as 10 has been his limit so far. I’m going to give the slight edge to Flores Jr. since he’s nine years younger than Cordina and will be fighting in front of his hometown fans.
Flores. Jr. is younger and has the hometown advantage.
Play Flores Jr. +230 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Gabriel Flores Jr betting • Joe Cordina betting