Joe Cordina Found Not Guilty of Assault in Cardiff

Former two-time world champion Joe Cordina has been cleared of assault after a trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. District Judge Charlotte Murphy returned a not guilty verdict on the charge of assault by beating involving Jamie O'Brien, concluding that the Welsh boxer acted in self-defence during an incident at a petrol station. An earlier assault charge had already been dismissed for lack of evidence.

Security footage showed O'Brien shoulder-barging Cordina before the boxer floored him with a single punch. O'Brien had already admitted assault by beating. The judge accepted that Cordina genuinely believed he needed to protect himself and rejected the prosecution's argument that he had hit out in revenge.

Relief and travel questions

Cordina said he felt pure relief at the verdict and that his attention now returns entirely to the gym and to arranging his next fight. The legal case had already cost him: it prevented him from entering the United States for a shot at the WBO lightweight title. Even with the verdict in his favour, it is not yet clear whether American authorities will quickly clear his travel documents.

His place in the WBO rankings

Cordina is 34 and turns 35 in December. He has been out of the ring for ten months, since a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Flores Jr. in Stockton. Despite that inactivity, the WBO still lists him as its number one contender at 135 pounds, ahead of Sam Noakes in second and Andy Cruz in tenth.

Cordina has fought twice at lightweight. Both of his world title reigns came at 130 pounds, a run that ended when Anthony Cacace stopped him. With the court case over, he said his next step is to line up a fight.