Former boxing world champion Joe Cordina has been cleared of assaulting a man he punched outside a petrol station.
The incident outside a garage in Pentwyn, Cardiff, in February led to the 34-year-old being denied entry to the US for a WBO lightweight title clash.
District Judge Charlotte Murphy found Cordina not guilty of assault by beating against Jamie O’Brien, 33, following a trial at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.
She said she was “satisfied” Cordina 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,” she said.
“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.”
After the hearing, Cordina said in a statement on social media that he was “hugely relieved” to put the incident behind him and was now focused “firmly on the future and getting back in the ring”.
Cordina had been filling up his Land Rover before he approached O’Brien, who had been sitting on the pavement near the petrol station exit.
CCTV footage showed O’Brien pushing Cordina using his shoulder, before the two-time IBF super-featherweight champion punched him with sufficient force to knock him to the ground.
The pair continued to “remonstrate” with one another and exchange blows.
O’Brien, from Pentwyn, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.
Police began to investigate the incident after footage of the altercation was circulated online.
