The Welsh boxer has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault in connection with the incident and is due to stand trial later this year
10:13, 27 Aug 2026Updated 15:42, 27 Aug 2026
Joe Cordina arriving at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court last month (Image: Walesonline)
A man has admitted punching former world champion boxer Joe Cordina outside a petrol station in Cardiff.
Jamie O’Brien pleaded guilty to assault by beating of Cordina during a hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
In a hearing last month the boxer denied two charges of assault against O’Brien and is due to stand trial later this year.
South Wales Police previously said the charges relate to an incident outside a Texaco garage in Pentwyn on February 27.
O’Brien, from Glyn Collen, Pentwyn, appeared in court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating.
The 33-year-old was given a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months and made to pay £111 in costs.
Cordina’s trial has been listed for October 13 and is due to last a day.
The boxer 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. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
On Instagram 24-year-old Cordina said: “Just to let everyone know that I’m not going to fight. 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 [sic] having it. They basically told me: ‘You ain’t [sic] 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.”
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