5 hrs ago
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Joe Cordina, the two-time junior lightweight champion, has been charged with assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.
The Welshman is now due to appear in magistrates’ court on July 7 following an incident which took place in late February.
The news comes after the 34-year-old was forced to withdraw from his scheduled clash with WBO champion Abdullah Mason, which was set for Cleveland, Ohio on July 4, after he was denied a visa to enter the United States.
A statement released by South Wales Police, reported by Wales Online, 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.
“James O’Brien, 32, from Pentwyn, has been charged with assault and is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on July.”
Cordina, The Ring’s No. 10-rated lightweight, had attempted to obtain his visa to travel earlier this month but confirmed on Wednesday that it had been denied.
On a video uploaded to his Instagram, he 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 and 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."
As reported by The Ring on Wednesday, 22-year-old Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) will now make the first defense of his world title against Albert Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) in the main event at Cleveland’s Wolstein Center.
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Joe Cordina out, Albert Bell to face Abdullah Mason on July 4
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