Joe Cordina, left, was a member of Great Britain's team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

It has been confirmed that Joe Cordina has left Great Britain Boxing’s World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after turning professional.

The 25-year-old from Wales has been signed to the Matchroom Boxing stable and will fight in the super-featherweight division.

Cordina was part of Britain’s boxing squad at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but was beaten in the second round of the lightweight competition.

He is the reigning European champion, winning the title in 2015, and also earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Looking ahead to his professional career, Cordina said he is targeting a world title.

"I want my name up in lights in Las Vegas, that’s the dream," he said.

Joe Cordina, second right, won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ©Getty Images
Joe Cordina, second right, won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ©Getty Images

"There’s pressure there, but I don’t feel it from what people think, it comes from myself.

"That’s work for me, if I put pressure on myself, it makes me perform.

"I want people to be talking about me and raving about my performances because in three years’ time, I want to be fighting for a world title."

Other former Olympians from Britain on the books at Matchroom include London 2012 super-heavyweight gold medallist Anthony Joshua and Beijing 2008 middleweight champion James DeGale.

"Joe is a talented boxer and we wish him all the best in his future career," said GB Boxing’s performance director Rob McCracken.