Former world champion boxer Joe Cordina charged with assault after Cardiff petrol station incident
Former world champion boxer Joe Cordina has been charged with “assaulting and threatening a person with an offensive weapon” following an incident at a petrol station in suburban Cardiff in February.
The 34-year-old, who is a two-time IBF super featherweight champion and will face Abdullah Mason in a WBO lightweight title clash next month for the opportunity to become a two-weight world champion, will appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 7.
A statement from South Wales Police said: “Two men have been charged in connection with the incident outside Pentwyn Service Station, Pentwyn Road, Cardiff, on 27 February 2026.
“Joseph Cordina, 34, of Pontprennau, has been charged with assaulting a person in a public place and threatening with an offensive weapon. He will appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 7.
“Jamie O’Brien, 32, of Pentwyn, has been charged with assault and will appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 28.”
The Cardiff fighter (19-1 9KO) revealed on his Instagram story on Wednesday that his application for a US visa was turned down, which triggered the collapse of his July 4 bout against Mason in Cleveland.
He said in a video: “Just to let everyone know I’m not going to fight. No injuries, I had a great camp and I was supposed to fly out here this week.”
“A few days ago, I went to the US embassy in London and they literally refused my visa. I tried to explain things and I had all the paperwork to back it up but they wouldn’t take it.
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“They simply told me ‘you can’t get in’. It was out of my hands and I was absolutely gutted because this was my chance to become a three-time two-weight world champion.”
Cordina also had an excellent amateur career and represented Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Competing alongside the likes of Nicola Adams, Joe Joyce and Joshua Buatsi, Cordina missed out on a medal but has since found success as a professional, losing just one of his 20 matches.
In his last fight, he defeated Gabriel Flores Jr. on points in December 2025.
