Joe Cordina charged with 'assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon'

Joe Cordina has been charged “with assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place” for his role in an alleged assault in Cardiff, Wales. The incident, which took place outside a petrol station, occurred in February.

The 34-year-old, who was this week denied a US visa to trigger the cancellation of his July 4 fight with WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason, yesterday said he was “absolutely gutted” to miss out on his chance to fight at Cleveland’s Wolstein Center.

Cordina, 19-1 (9 KOs), is due in court on July 7 to answer to the assault charges.

A video of the alleged incident was widely shared online and showed one man falling to the floor after taking a blow to the head.

“Two men have been charged in connection with an incident outside Pentwyn Service Station, Pentwyn Road, Cardiff on February 27, 2026,” read a statement from South Wales Police.

“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.”

Cordina had hoped to become a two-weight world champion against Mason. He lost his IBF junior lightweight belt to Anthony Cacace in a mild upset in May 2024 but he had won two since, defeating Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jnr to achieve mandatory status at lightweight with the WBO.

“I tried to explain certain things, and had all the paperwork to back it up, and they wasn’t having it,” Cordina said yesterday about his efforts to persuade the US Embassy to grant him a visa. “They just sort of basically told me you ain’t getting in.”

Mason is now expected to defend his title against Albert Bell instead.