Joe Cordina, a former two-time boxing world champion, will stand trial after denying two charges of assault by beating. The 34-year-old athlete, who has held the IBF super-featherweight title, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges related to an incident on February 27 this year.

Background and Charges

Cordina, who represented Team GB at the 2016 Olympics, is accused of assaulting another man outside Pentwyn Service Station in Cardiff. South Wales Police confirmed the charges are connected to the incident, which allegedly involved Cordina and Jamie O'Brien, 33, who has also been charged with assault. The court heard the offences are alleged to be "against each other".

Nadeem Majid, representing Cordina, stated the second charge of assault "emanates from one continued incident". District Judge Charlotte Murphy set a trial date for Cordina of October 13 at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, granting him unconditional bail. Cordina denies the assault and claims "any actions were in self-defence".

Trial and Next Steps

A further charge of threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place has been discontinued. Megan Harriman appeared for the prosecution, while Declan McSorley represented O'Brien, whose case has been adjourned until August 26. Cordina was due to face America's Abdullah Mason in a world title bout in Cleveland earlier this month but revealed his US visa application had been denied, causing the contest to collapse.

In a video, Cordina explained: "Just to let everyone know that I'm not going to fight. 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."

What's Next for Cordina

Cordina's trial is set for October 13, and the outcome will determine the next steps for the athlete. The Cardiff fighter, with a record of 19-1 and 9 KOs, will have to wait until the trial to learn his fate. The case has sparked interest in the boxing community, with many following the developments and awaiting the outcome.

  • Trial date: October 13
  • Location: Cardiff Magistrates' Court
  • Charges: Two counts of assault by beating