Ex-boxing world champion appears in court charged with assaulting man outside UK petrol station

SportBoxing FORMER boxing world champion Joe Cordina has pleaded not guilty to assaulting another man. The two-time IBF super-featherweight champion allegedly attacked the victim outside Pentwyn Service Station in Cardiff. Joe Cordina has been charged with assault Credit: PA The boxer appeared at court today Credit: media Wales Cordina, 34, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court today where he pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault by beating. He appeared in the dock alongside Jamie O’Brien, 32, who has also been charged with assault in connection with the incident. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! The court previously heard the offences the two men are charged with are alleged to be “against each other”. Nadeem Majid, representing Cordina, said the second charge of assault he faces “emanates from one continued incident”. The court was told he denies the assault and says “any actions were in self-defence”. A further charge of threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place has been discontinued. O’Brien did not enter a plea during the hearing. District Judge Charlotte Murphy set a trial date for Cordina of October 13. Most read in Sport She said: “You’ve pleaded not guilty to two offences, which means there’s going to be a trial. “Until then, I grant you unconditional bail.” Cordina 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. The boxer lost the IBF super-featherweight title to Anthony Cacace in Riyadh in May 2024 – the only defeat on his 19-fight CV . He has since earned unanimous-decision victories over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jr.