Joe Cordina found not guilty after petrol station punch in Pentwyn, Cardiff

Joe Cordina was found not guilty at Cardiff Magistrates' Court of assault by beating after punching a man outside a petrol station in Pentwyn, Cardiff, in February. District Judge Charlotte Murphy said she was "satisfied" Cordina believed it was necessary to use force to defend himself.

The 34-year-old former boxing world champion had faced charges following the incident, which police began investigating after footage of the altercation was circulated online. The episode had led to Cordina being denied entry to the US for a WBO lightweight title clash. The alleged victim, Jamie O'Brien, 33, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

District Judge Murphy reviewed the available footage and told the court: "I am further satisfied that a single, measured, controlled punch was proportionate in the circumstances." She warned against judging the response by viewing CCTV in slow motion, saying: "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."

Prosecutors presented CCTV that showed Cordina filling up his Land Rover before approaching O'Brien, who had been sitting on the pavement near the petrol station exit. The footage showed O'Brien pushing Cordina using his shoulder, after which Cordina struck him with sufficient force to knock him to the ground; the pair continued to "remonstrate" with one another and exchange blows.

Cordina told the court he initially thought O'Brien was a fan who wanted a photograph and that he had called him over, but said O'Brien responded: "You come here." He told the court O'Brien then "barged" him and left him feeling threatened and added: "He had his hands in his pockets, I don't know what people carry on them these days."

Cordina also told the court it was "pretty much" a certainty 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. The judge had previously ruled there was no case to answer in relation to a second charge.

Delivering her verdict, the judge said: "In my view, it was necessary and the force used was proportionate in the circumstances. "I reject any suggestion that the defendant was retaliating in any way. "This is a person who has lived in the public eye for many years and has interacted with the public on a daily basis. "For all of those reasons, the crown has not proved to the criminal standard. I therefore find the defendant not guilty and dismiss the charge."

The court outcome comes after the altercation prevented Cordina from having the opportunity to become a two-weight world champion.