Flores Jr vs Cordina Predictions: Welsh wonder makes US debut in California

WBO number-four Gabriel Flores Jr. takes on former IBF super featherweight champion Joe Cordina this Saturday, December 13. The WBO international lightweight title match-up takes place at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. DAZN will broadcast the event live, with Diego Pacheco facing puncher Kevin Lele Sadjo in the main event.

Read further for my Flores Jr vs Cordina predictions.

Flores Jr vs Cordina Odds

Flores is 3/1 to score the biggest win of his career in front of his hometown Stockton crowd. Cordina is 2/7 to win his American debut. You can find the draw at 14/1.

Flores Jr vs Cordina Fight Preview

Welsh wonder Cordina has had a rough few years. Joe was on top of the tree in 2022 when he captured the IBF super featherweight strap from Kenichi Ogawa with a second-round knockout that put him on the world’s radar. But a hand injury put the kibosh on a mandatory defence against Shavkat Rakhimov. The trigger-happy IBF stripped Joe of the title, which Rakhimov then won with a ninth-round knockout of Manchester hope Zelfa Barrett.

Cordina returned the following year and reclaimed his throne via split decision over Rakhimov. The bout was thrilling an landed on many 2023 Fight of the Year lists. A majority nod over Edward Vazquez was less well-received, with some feeling the Texan had done enough. 

The punishing, close fights Cordina had endured as challenger and champion took their toll. Long-shot Anthony Cacace knocked the Welshman out in eight rounds in Riyadh last year. Cordina’s big stage turned into a showcase for the 35-year-old underdog. 

Cordina looked to have secured a way back in to the big time. Moving to lightweight, the Brit signed for a shot at pound-for-pounder Shakur Stevenson’s WBC 135-pound championship. But the American pulled out the month before the fight, leaving Cordina in limbo. 

The Welshman spent his exile training under Barry Sims at the Ben Davison Performance Centre as he prepared for an opportunity that felt like it would never come. 

Joe’s time in purgatory ended in July of this year. He came armed with new trainer Gary Lockett, whose Llanrumney gym ring has the very canvas Cordina knocked out Ogawa on three years ago. A new team and familiar motivation drove Cordina to a points win over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz at the Co-op Arena in Manchester.

Flores is strong opposition for Cordina’s US debut. The Stockton boy will be boxing in his hometown and he has not lost in six fights. Flores’ two defeats were to former world champion Luis Alberto Lopez and highly-ranked contender Giovanni Cabrera. This guy has mixed in good company.

This means the Californian will show no fear against the ex-IBF boss. But will he show the requisite quality? Flores’ winning streak has landed him a plum spot in the world rankings. But he is yet to take out a world-class fighter. Cordina is exactly that.

Flores Jr vs Cordina Full Card

Diego Pacheco vs Kevin Lele Sadjo

Gabriel Flores Jr. vs Joe Cordina

Skye Nicolson vs Yuliahn Luna Avila

Ernesto Mercado vs Antonio Moran

Arturo Popoca vs Cesar Vaca Espinoza

Cheavon Clarke vs Anthony Hollaway

Sachery Sam vs Brandon Medina Guerrero

Cesar Olvera vs Victor Saravia

Flores Jr vs Cordina Prediction

Flores’ main vulnerability is power. Lopez had him at sixes-and-sevens while it took Cabrera seven seconds to floor him, a trick he would repeat twice more. But Cordina is no power-puncher, with nine KOs on his 19-fight docket.

So the question becomes whether Flores can out-box the Welshman. He’s got fast hands, albeit without much power in the fists. Flores is also guilty of throwing his shots wide when he opens up. A precise technician like Cordina can have a field day with straight shots against this kid. 

Cordina looks to back up his opponents, throwing a thudding jab to manoeuvre them around the ring to his liking. The right hand comes in variants. A straight guard-splitter. A looping hook. A jarring short on the inside. 

Flores’ best shot is to take advantage of Cordina’s tendency to tuck up along the ropes. If he can get the favourite against the strands, those wild-and-woolly shots could find Joe’s body and do some damage. 

But I reckon Flores is made for Cordina in all honesty. I think Joe imposes his will throughout, perhaps even knocking the 25-year-old down, on the way to a decision win. Cordina is 1/1 to win via points.

Image: CrisEsquedaPhoto/Matchroom

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.