Former super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina is due to appear in court next month after being charged with assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.
South Wales Police confirmed the 34-year-old boxer from Pontprennau has been charged following an incident outside a petrol station in the Cardiff suburb of Pentwyn in February. Cordina is scheduled to appear before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 7 July.
A second man, 32-year-old Jamie O’Brien from Pentwyn, has also been charged with assault and is expected to appear at the same court on 28 July.
The legal proceedings come after Cordina was forced to withdraw from a planned WBO lightweight world title fight against American champion Abdullah Mason in Cleveland on 4 July.
Earlier this week, Cordina said the United States embassy in London rejected his visa application despite him providing documentation in support of his case. The Welsh fighter explained on social media that he had attempted to clarify the situation but was informed he would not be granted entry into the country, preventing the bout from taking place.
The contest would have been Mason’s first defence of the WBO lightweight title, which he captured in a dramatic fight against Sam Noakes in November 2025.
Cordina had been aiming to become a two-weight world champion after rebuilding his career at lightweight. The Cardiff boxer suffered the only defeat of his 19-fight professional record when Anthony Cacace stopped him to claim the IBF super-featherweight title in May 2024.
Since then, Cordina has returned with victories over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz to secure the vacant WBO Global lightweight title before producing a dominant points win against Gabriel Flores Jr in California in December 2025.
Before reaching world level, Cordina enjoyed a successful amateur career, representing Team GB at the Olympic Games and competing alongside future heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. He also previously won British and Commonwealth lightweight titles during his rise through the professional ranks.