Former champion Joe Cordina claims instinct drove punch in Cardiff petrol-station brawl
Former IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina was accused of striking Jamie O'Brien outside a Texaco station in Cardiff, saying he acted on instinct.
Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard that former two-time IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina struck Jamie O'Brien outside a Texaco service station in Pentwyn, Cardiff, during a February altercation. CCTV footage displayed O'Brien pushing Cordina before the boxer delivered a forceful punch that knocked O'Brien to the ground. The prosecution asserted that Cordina started the fight, that O'Brien posed no threat, and that Cordina's second punch went beyond self-defence.
Cordina’s defence was that he acted out of instinct after feeling threatened. O'Brien admitted assaulting Cordina, receiving a court-cost order of £85 and a £26 surcharge. The case follows Cordina’s recent denial of a US visa that cancelled a scheduled WBO lightweight title bout in Cleveland.
Why it matters
The case highlights legal scrutiny of a high-profile athlete's conduct and its impact on his career prospects.
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