JOE CORDINA DENIES ASSAULT CHARGE OVER PETROL STATION INCIDENT

Joe Cordina, a former super-featherweight world champion, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by beating following an incident outside a petrol station in the Cardiff suburb of Pentwyn in February. Cordina, 34, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Tuesday alongside Jamie O'Brien, 32, also from Pentwyn, who faces the same charge. District Judge Charlotte Murphy granted Cordina unconditional bail until his trial, scheduled for 13 October. O'Brien did not enter a plea at the hearing and his case was adjourned until 26 August.

The court previously heard that the offences the two men are charged with are alleged to involve each other. Cordina's legal representative, Nadeem Majid, told the court that the second assault charge "emanates from one continued incident". Cordina is a two-time International Boxing Federation super-featherweight champion. He was scheduled to fight for the WBO lightweight title in the United States on 4 July, but revealed in a social media post that his application for a US visa was refused.

Both men remain on bail pending trial. The case will proceed through Cardiff Magistrates' Court, with Cordina's trial date confirmed as 13 October this year.