Joe Cordina hasn't been inside a ring since he lost his IBF junior lightweight title to Anthony Cacace in May 2024.

That will end when he steps into the ring with Mexico's Jaret Gonzalez in chief support to Jack Catterall-Harlem Eubank at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, on July 5.

Since the defeat the Welshman has been seen at several events and had been tabbed to face Shakur Stevenson for the WBC 135-pound title in October only for the American to injure his shoulder and pull out.

Cordina will return at lightweight, where the early part of his career took place and saw him claim British and Commonwealth titles.

It will also be the first fight in a new deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom.

Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) had an extensive amateur career, competing at the 2011, '13 and '15 World Championships. He claimed gold at the '15 European Championships and represented Team GB at the '16 Rio Olympics before turning professional. Cordina came of age when he spectacularly knocked out IBF titleholder Kenichi Ogawa (KO 2).

A hand injury meant the 33-year-old was stripped of the title, and after several months returned to edge Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (SD 12) to regain his title. He struggled past Edward Vazquez (MD 12) before weight issues caught up with him when he was surprisingly beaten by Cacace (TKO 8).

Gonzalez (17-1, 13 KOs) turned professional at 16 in 2017. After 12 wins, he lost for the first time to journeyman Hector Garcia (KO 3) in March 2021.

The 24-year-old has since won five fights but at a lower level in Mexico.