Former super-featherweight champion eyes two-division glory with make-or-break bout this weekend

Joe Cordina believes his superior experience will outweigh Gabriel Flores Jr. when the pair step into the ring together in Stockton this Saturday.

The former IBF super-featherweight champion will continue his journey at lightweight away from home as he heads to California, live on DAZN.

Cordina, previously in line to face Shakur Stevenson last year before the American was injured, has only fought once in the past eighteen months.

Yet as he faces home favourite Flores Jr. on the West Coast, the Welshman is particularly confident he can take a key victory in the United States.

"[He is] nowhere near the level I've been at or as good as me," he told The Ring. "When the first punch is thrown, he'll realize it's a different calibre.

"He could say the same about me, but I've been at the level he's lost at, and I've been there a long time. We'll see on the night.

"Sometimes when things become difficult, they revert to what they know. I think if I get on top of him, he's going to have a hard night."

Cordina hopes that victory against Flores Jr. can further position a potential title shot with freshly crowned WBO champion Abdullah Mason next.

But the star admits he has achieved all of his dreams, and the pursuit of double-division status is to help seal a financial future for his loved ones.

"I'm not getting any younger, I'm 34, I need to wrack them up," he added. "Everything I wanted to do in the sport I've done. I've ticked them all off.

"Now I've got to set more goals, otherwise there's no ambition there. It's solely to become a two-weight world champion and secure [for] my family."

Cordina close to hopes for title shot

DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel

With four British male fighters currently on top of the world with one major belt or another, Joe Cordina isn't the only man chasing a place in the club.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

But the Welshman could well be closer than most to a shot, especially if he comes through his bout with Gabriel Flores Jr with flying colours too.

Cordina is ranked sixth with the WBC, while his opponent is fourth - but victory for either surely pushes them further onto the radar for a big dance.

Abdullah Mason's history-making win over Sam Noakes in a low-key bout-of-the-year contender could well mean a rematch is on the cards there.

If not, Cordina faces a great opportunity to secure his bid for another title, with WBO and IBF rankings also contributing to his promising position.

Sign up to DAZN Ultimate Tier to get PPV's included in your subscription 

Subscribe to DAZN's new Ultimate Tier to get a minimum of 12 PPV events included per year, including The Ring V and Lopez vs. Stevenson, on top of another 185 fight nights. Plus Serie A football, watch on multiple devices, and many more extra benefits.

Sign up for £22.99 in the UK / $44.99 in the U.S. More details here.