Joe Cordina is clear of assault charges after a Cardiff judge ruled he acted in self-defense during a petrol station incident, according to the BBC. The legal trouble previously cost the former two-time world champion his chance to enter the United States for a shot at the WBO lightweight crown.
District Judge Charlotte Murphy delivered a not guilty verdict on the assault by beating charge involving Jamie O’Brien at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court. An earlier assault charge had already been thrown out due to insufficient evidence.
Security footage captured O’Brien shoulder-barging Cordina before the Welsh fighter dropped him with a single punch. O’Brien had already admitted guilt to assault by beating. Judge Murphy ruled Cordina genuinely believed he needed to protect himself, shutting down claims from prosecutors that he struck out of revenge.
Cordina expressed pure relief after hearing the decision, noting that his complete focus shifts straight back to gym work and lining up his next bout.
Walking away cleared the trial, though it remains unclear whether American authorities will immediately clear his travel paperwork.
Beyond the legal win, Cordina’s standing in the lightweight division raises major questions. He sits at 34 years old, celebrates another birthday in December, and has been out of the ring for ten months following a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Flores Jr. in Stockton.
The WBO still ranks him as the top contender at 135 pounds, perched above Sam Noakes at second and Andy Cruz down at tenth. Defending that lofty spot on merit is tough. Cordina has made just two appearances in the division. His outing against Flores failed to showcase the kind of dominance expected from an undeniable mandatory challenger.
Both of his world championship runs happened at 130 pounds, a chapter that ended when Anthony Cacace halted him. Past hardware at junior lightweight should not hand him a free pass to jump the line in a completely different weight class. Cordina gets a fresh start to rebuild his momentum, but his lightweight resume still needs to catch up to his generous ranking.