Former IBF super‑featherweight champion Joe Cordina was charged with assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon after a February 27 clash outside Pentwyn Service Station in Cardiff. Police said the dispute involved a metal bottle, classifying it as an offensive weapon. The 34‑year‑old from Pontprennau will appear before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 7, while co‑defendant Jamie O’Brien faces a July 28 hearing.

Cordina posted on Instagram that his July 4 bout with WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason in Cleveland collapsed after the US visa was denied by the State Department. He claimed the embassy rejected his paperwork despite a full camp, leaving him “gutted.” Missing the showcase strips him of a payday and a ranking boost ahead of the busy 2026 schedule.

The visa setback follows Cordina’s loss of the IBF super‑featherweight belt to Anthony Cacace in May 2024 this year, his only defeat on a 19‑fight record. He rebounded with unanimous‑decision wins over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jr., but the cancelled U.S. fight stalls momentum. Promoters will now seek a replacement opponent while Cordina must rebuild his visa record for future trips again.