Welsh boxer Joe Cordina, a former super-featherweight world champion, has been charged with assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon following an altercation outside a Cardiff petrol station in February 2026. The 34-year-old is scheduled to appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 7.
Incident at Pentwyn Service Station
The charges stem from an incident on February 27, 2026, outside Pentwyn Service Station on Pentwyn Road, Cardiff. A video shared widely online at the time appeared to show a shouting match and one man falling to the floor. South Wales Police confirmed that two men were charged in connection with the incident.
In a statement, a spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "Two men have been charged in connection with an incident outside Pentwyn Service Station, Pentwyn Road, Cardiff, on February 27, 2026. Joseph Cordina, 34, from Pontprennau, has been charged with assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place. He is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 7."
The second man, Jamie O’Brien, 32, from Pentwyn, was charged with assault and is due in court on July 28.
Visa Denial Derails Title Fight
The legal troubles come as Cordina was forced to withdraw from a scheduled WBO lightweight title fight against Abdullah Mason in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 4, 2026. Cordina revealed on Instagram that the US Embassy in London denied his visa application, preventing him from traveling.
"Just to let everyone know that I'm not going to fight," Cordina said. "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 wasn't having it. They basically told me, 'you ain't 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."
Impact on Career
Cordina, who previously held the IBF super-featherweight title, had been aiming to become a two-weight world champion. The visa denial and assault charges now cast uncertainty over his future in the sport. The fight against Mason, an undefeated American prospect, was seen as a major step in his career.
