Cordina seeks to follow Calzaghe's American dream

Joe Cordina is bidding to become a three-time, two-weight world champion [Getty Images] Joe Cordina says he will be achieving an American dream when he fights Abdullah Mason in Ohio on Independence Day. Well almost. The former world super-featherweight world champion had set his sights on emulating fellow Welshman Joe Calzaghe in winning world title fights in Las Vegas and New York.

Instead on 4 July, his US mission will be to challenge WBO lightweight champion Mason in the 22-year-old's hometown of Cleveland. "I've achieved everything I've wanted to achieve, I've still got ambition of being a world champion but I've always wanted to have a big fight in America against a big name," 34-year-old Cordina told BBC Radio Wales' Drive programme. "And, at this present moment, Abdullah Mason is a massive name, especially being the youngest world champion.

It's a massive test but it's one I'm more than capable of. " Cordina to fight Mason for WBO lightweight title Two-weight world champion goal motivates Cordina Former world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Calzaghe won twice in America in a stellar unbeaten career. In April 2008 he defeated Bernard Hopkins at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, before beating Roy Jones Jr at New York's Madison Square Garden later that year in his final fight.

"I remember when [Joe] went over to fight Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins and he had the same sort of ambition as me, he wanted them big in America," added Cordina, whose fight with Mason was confirmed this week. "Ideally, my goal was to fight in America and fight in Vegas or Madison Square Garden. "Unfortunately it can't be done, it's in his hometown in Cleveland, so it is what it is, but at the same time, it's one of them nights and to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Joe Calzaghe and other British fighters - Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch and many others - it's just a massive achievement for me.