A FORMER boxing world champion has been found cleared of assault after CCTV showed him punching a man to the ground,
Two-time IBF super-featherweight champion was accused of assaulting Jamie O’Brien outside Pentwyn Service Station in in February.
Cardiff Magistrates’ heard Cordina had been filling up his Land Rover when he was shouted at by O’Brien to “beckon him over”.
CCTV footage played to the court showed O’Brien then push Cordina using his shoulder before the boxer “punched him with sufficient force to knock him to the ground”.
Cordina has now been cleared of assault by beating after a judge found there was no case to answer over an alleged punch while Mr O’Brien was being restrained.
In her ruling, Judge Charlotte Murphy said: “I am satisfied that the defendant believed it was necessary to use force to defend himself.
“I am further satisfied that a single, measured, controlled punch was proportionate in the circumstances.
“It is very easy to consider the defendant’s response by considering the CCTV in slow motion, however the defendant had a split second to consider his response to the shoulder barge.”
The judge said she accepted Cordina’s evidence that he had repeatedly pushed O’Brien “while on the floor to keep him away from him”.
“In my view, it was necessary and the force used was proportionate in the circumstances,” she added.
The judge had previously ruled there was no case to answer in relation to a second charge of assault.
Defending, Thomas Crowther KC said O’Brien’s sister told police her brother had been “talking about wanting to hurt Mr Cordina” before the brawl.
He added: “She also told police that although he and Mr Cordina had boxed together when younger, Mr O’Brien now hated Mr Cordina.
“She expressly raised the possibility that her brother had sought out Mr Cordina.
“She also told police that Jamie had been talking about wanting to hurt Mr Cordina.”
But Alex Orndal, prosecuting, said it was the Crown’s case “that Cordina has initiated the confrontation”.
The prosecutor continued: “Mr Cordina’s actions went beyond lawful self-defence.”
Police began to investigate the brawl after footage was circulated online.
Cordina said he initially thought O’Brien was a fan who wanted a photograph and described how he was accustomed to being recognised four or five times a day, adding: “I make time for everybody.”
He told the court he had seen O’Brien staring at him while he was filling his car and called him over, but that O’Brien had responded: “You come here.”
He said he had acted in self defence because he felt threatened after O’Brien “barged” him during their initial interaction.
“He had his hands in his pockets, I don’t know what people carry on them these days,” he told the court.
Cordina told the court it was “pretty much” a certainty that he would risk losing his boxing licence if he received a criminal conviction and that this “100%” had an impact on how he conducted himself day to day.
O’Brien previously admitted assault by beating and was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 court costs and pay a mandatory surcharge of £26.
He was due to fight for the WBO lightweight title in the United States on July 4 but his application for a US visa was refused.
The boxer lost the IBF super-featherweight title to Anthony Cacace in Riyadh in May 2024 – the only defeat on his 19-fight CV .
He has since earned unanimous-decision victories over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jr.
