Ex-Chelsea and Arsenal stars brawl in intense boxing fight as dig at Tottenham is fired
Amid the weekend's Premier League action, a wide variety of former stars of the division locked horns in a charity boxing event hosted by Pro Project Promotions.
Ex-Chelsea player and assistant boss Jody Morris triumphed over ex-Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur star David Bentley at a charity boxing match. Morris, 46, served as Frank Lampard's right-hand man during the current Coventry City manager's initial spell at Stamford Bridge, where they reached the FA Cup final and finished in the top four, despite having a transfer ban.
Four years on from Lampard's sacking, Morris, who also had a brief stint managing Swindon Town, traded the football pitch for the boxing ring to compete on Pro Project Promotions' charity fight card against Bentley.
The event was organised to raise funds for charities like Playskill, Sport In Mind, Willow Foundation, and Helping Hands, with a target of generating £500,000. It proved to be a thrilling evening of boxing entertainment, with the likes of Peter Crouch amongst those in attendance.
The card - held at the Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair - was put together by former Arsenal and Millwall goalkeeper Graham Stack, who also convinced Curtis Davies, Leroy Lita, Paddy Kenny and numerous others to step into the ring.
Yet the main event was the showdown between Morris and Bentley, former Chelsea and Spurs stars respectively. The two Londoners reignited their historic rivalry, but went to battle with boxing gloves instead of football boots.
On this particular evening, it was the Blues who emerged victorious, with Morris declared the winner after three rounds. Following the fight, the former Chelsea youth coach found a way to have a dig at Tottenham and Arsenal.
After the fight, he said: "I was absolutely f*****! You don't realise how much that the adrenaline will take out of you. Obviously, I've worked fairly hard for the last seven-eight weeks. I was pleased I did, otherwise I'd have been out on my feet."
He also made a cheeky reference to Bentley's former clubs, chuckling: "Spurs have tried for ages, but they always get folded up by the Chels. But let's not forget he was Arsenal as well so that was Arsenal and Spurs in one night."
Bentley congratulated Morris on his victory as he confessed that he found the bout to be a tough challenge. The ex-Gunner, who hung up his boots at just 29-years-old, also hinted he will likely not box again.
The now 41-year-old said: "I feel great getting in the ring, fighting Jody what a great guy he is. But getting into the ring, I think that I'm better at promoting boxing than I am actually boxing.
"But I wanted to actually get in the ring - and it was about raising money for charity. That's what it's all about. Congratulations to Jody. Thank God I didn't go down, I wouldn't have got back up!"
Morris managed to keep Bentley at bay with some solid jabs, while also landing some massive overhead right hands on the former England international. Bentley, trained by ex-world champion Kevin Mitchell, struggled to penetrate Morris's defence and land any significant blows of his own.
However, the entire event was conducted in good spirits, culminating in the two ex-players from rival teams sharing a warm embrace in the ring.