Joe Cordina pleads not guilty to alleged assault outside petrol station

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boxer Joe Cordina pleads not guilty to alleged assault outside petrol station

Cordina, 34, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning

Welsh boxer and former world champion Joe Cordina pleaded not guilty to two counts of assaulting a man by beating outside a petrol station in Cardiff earlier this year. The incident involving the 34-year-old is alleged to have happened outside Pentwyn service station at Pentwyn Road on February 27, 2026.

At a hearing at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning, Cordina confirmed his name, date of birth and address. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by beating of Jamie O'Brien.

District Judge Charlotte Murphy listed the matter for a trial which is due to last for a day on October 13.

A second defendant, Jamie O'Brien, 32, from Pentwyn, has also been charged with assault by beating of Cordina and appeared before the court on Tuesday morning alongside the former world champion.

O'Brien did not enter pleas and his case was adjourned until August 26 to see whether his case could be dealt with outside of court.

The former super-featherweight world champion had been due to fight in a WBO lightweight title fight with Abdullah Mason in Cleveland on Saturday, July 4, but was forced to pull out.

On Instagram, Cordina said: "Just to let everyone know that I'm not going to fight. It's not injuries, I've seen a lot of [reports] saying injuries, but there's no injuries.

"I've had a great camp. I was meant to fly over this week. A couple of days back I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically denied me a visa.

"I tried to explain certain things and I had all the paperwork to back it up and they [sic] wasn't having it. They basically told me, 'you ain't [sic] getting in'.

"It's out of my hands and I'm absolutely gutted to become a three-time, two-weight world champion, plus fight for a world title in America was a goal of mine. Feel bad for Abdullah, but obviously myself as well."

[SeanBrennan]

Hell of a body shot though good on him

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joe Cordina granted bail after pleading not guilty to assault charges

Joe Cordina, a two-time IBF junior lightweight beltholder, was Tuesday granted unconditional bail at Cardiff Magistrates Court after he pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault by beating.

The 2016 Olympian will now face trial on October 13.

The 34-year-old appeared in the dock alongside James O’Brien, who has also been charged with assault in connection with the incident that South Wales Police stated occurred on February 27 outside a service station in Pentwyn, Wales.

The court had previously heard the offences Cordina and O’Brien are charged with are “against each other”.

Cordina, 19-1 (9 KOs), had been due to challenge WBO lightweight boss Abdullah Mason in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 4 only for his application for a US visa to be denied.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Man admits punching boxer Joe Cordina outside Cardiff petrol station

The Welsh boxer has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault in connection with the incident and is due to stand trial later this year

Joe Cordina, a white man in his 30s. He has dark brown hair with a short beard and is wearing a black 3/4 zip

Joe Cordina arriving at Cardiff Magistrates' Court last month (Image: Walesonline)
A man has admitted punching former world champion boxer Joe Cordina outside a petrol station in Cardiff.

Jamie O'Brien pleaded guilty to assault by beating of Cordina during a hearing at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

In a hearing last month the boxer denied two charges of assault against O'Brien and is due to stand trial later this year.

South Wales Police previously said the charges relate to an incident outside a Texaco garage in Pentwyn on February 27.

O'Brien, from Pentwyn, appeared in court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating.

The 33-year-old was given a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months and made to pay £111 in costs.

The boxer was due to fight for the WBO lightweight title in the United States on July 4 but his application for a US visa was refused. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

On Instagram 24-year-old Cordina said: "Just to let everyone know that I'm not going to fight. It's not injuries,

"I've seen a lot of [reports] saying injuries but there's no injuries.

"I've had a great camp. I was meant to fly over this week.

"A couple of days back I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically denied me a visa.

"It's out of my hands and I'm absolutely gutted to become a three-time, two-weight world champion, plus fight for a world title in America was a goal of mine. Feel bad for Abdullah but obviously myself as well."

[Rockytony67]

Not Guilty
Former two-time IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina was found not guilty of assault at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. District Judge Charlotte Murphy ruled that CCTV footage showed O’Brien shoulder-barging Cordina first at a Pentwyn Texaco station in February, making Cordina’s single punch a proportionate act of self-defence. O’Brien had already admitted his assault and got a conditional discharge. Now cleared, the 34-year-old Welsh boxer eyes a return to the ring, possibly on the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff this December.

[JamesPhilips]

Not Guilty
Former two-time IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina was found not guilty of assault at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. District Judge Charlotte Murphy ruled that CCTV footage showed O’Brien shoulder-barging Cordina first at a Pentwyn Texaco station in February, making Cordina’s single punch a proportionate act of self-defence. O’Brien had already admitted his assault and got a conditional discharge. Now cleared, the 34-year-old Welsh boxer eyes a return to the ring, possibly on the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff this December.

Good news. What a shame Joe lost out on a decent payday for this nonsense. I also find it odd that he was refused entry into the US for a pending issue. And a relatively minor incident. Innocent until proven guilty.

[liamlion]

Not Guilty
Former two-time IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina was found not guilty of assault at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. District Judge Charlotte Murphy ruled that CCTV footage showed O’Brien shoulder-barging Cordina first at a Pentwyn Texaco station in February, making Cordina’s single punch a proportionate act of self-defence. O’Brien had already admitted his assault and got a conditional discharge. Now cleared, the 34-year-old Welsh boxer eyes a return to the ring, possibly on the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff this December.

Good news. What a shame Joe lost out on a decent payday for this nonsense. I also find it odd that he was refused entry into the US for a pending issue. And a relatively minor incident. Innocent until proven guilty.

Im pleased Cordina was found not guilty and good luck to him. But it wasn't a relatively minor offence. Its an offence of violence that carries a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment. Driving without an MOT Certificate is a relatively minor offence, for example.

Cordina gave evidence to the court stating that if convicted he knew he would lose his boxing licence. Thus, the BBBoC also don't view convictions for assault by beating as a minor matter.

Offences against the person (violence) are one of the type of offences that countries look out for when considering granting visas and for good reason too.

Countries don't tend to take chances on letting potential violent offenders into their country. Innocent until proven guilty is not the standard that is applied in relation to safeguarding.

[Taansend]

Good for him. I hope he gets a fight on the Cardiff bill.

If it's not for a title shot then him & Noakes would be a cracker.

[Ruthless-RKO]