Joe Cordina is in line for a chance to become two-weight world champion after dominating Gabriel Flores Jr in California en route to a unanimous points victory.
Cordina, former holder of the Welsh IBF super featherweight belt, outboxed his American opponent, with the judges scoring the contest 117-110, 115-112, 114-113.
The fight at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton was billed as a final eliminator for the WBO lightweight world title won by Abdullah Mason in an epic encounter with Sam Noakes in November.
Cordina, 34, received a point in the sixth round for hitting a rabbit, but was in more control than the judges’ scorecards suggested.
“I got the win, but it wasn’t exactly how I wanted to do it,” Cordina said.
“You can’t come and take a fight away from me. I kept applying pressure and forced him to the ropes, and he couldn’t keep up.”
