Former boxing world champion Joe Cordina was "retaliating" during a fight in which he punched a man at a petrol station, a court has heard. Cordina is standing trial charged with assault by beating relating to an incident on 27 February involving Jamie O'Brien. Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard the altercation came to light days later after a video was published on Wales Online, filmed by a witness at a Texaco garage in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff. O'Brien's sister told police her brother "hated" Cordina and she feared he had "sought" him out. A second assault by beating charge against Cordina was dropped on Tuesday. O'Brien previously admitted a charge of assault by beating.
CCTV footage played to the court showed Cordina filling up his car and walking over to O'Brien, who stood on the pavement nearby. Prosecutor Alex Orndal said O'Brien "pushed Mr Cordina with his shoulder" and Cordina then punched him with sufficient force to push him to the ground, where he pushed him "repeatedly". "Mr Cordina has initiated the confrontation," Orndal said, adding that Cordina "was not protecting himself but retaliating". The court heard that O'Brien then showed "aggression" as Cordina raised a golf club, and a number of blows were exchanged. O'Brien was eventually restrained and "posed no further threat", but Cordina threw a further punch at him.
In a police interview on 11 March 2026, Cordina denied the charges and said he had been stared at by O'Brien, initially thinking he wanted a photo. He told police that having been shoved, he felt threatened, and that he punched O'Brien later out of instinct. He also said O'Brien had threatened to stab him. Cordina's defence barrister, Tom Crowther KC, said O'Brien had been identified from the online video by family members who had raised concerns about his behaviour.
Judge Charlotte Murphy dismissed the second charge part-way through the trial, saying there was no case to answer. She adjourned the hearing and will give her judgement on Tuesday 20 October.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing