Bare-knuckle boxing 'highly unlikely' to return to Hydro as Swinney condemns violence

Bare-knuckle boxing is ‘highly unlikely’ to return to the Hydro as the First Minister condemned “unacceptable scenes” outside the Glasgow venue at the weekend.

Officers attended reports of a disturbance in Congress Road, the street outside the Hydro, around 11.10pm on Saturday, November 7.

Footage circulated on social media showed a large group of men trading punches following the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) event.

Two men, aged 32 and 27, were arrested and charged with offences including assault, obstructing police and threatening and abusive behaviour.

Three men were arrested and issued with recorded police warnings for threatening and abusive behaviour and breach of the peace.

Three officers were assaulted during the disorder, with two of them requiring medical treatment.

‘Highly unlikely to return’

John Swinney called the attacks on police officers “totally unacceptable”.

He said: “There is absolutely no place for violence on the streets of Scotland, on any occasion, and the events at the weekend outside the Hydro were completely and utterly unacceptable.

“And the involvement of any attacks on members or our emergency services is totally unacceptable.”

STV News understands that bare-knuckle boxing is highly unlikely to return to the Hydro as the promoter behind the venue “strongly condemned” the scenes.

A spokesperson for the SEC said: “Saturday’s event was attended by around 9,000 people and was delivered safely within the venue, following extensive planning with the promoter, Police Scotland and other relevant parties.

“We are aware of a number of incidents outside the venue after the event which we strongly condemn, and we are supporting Police Scotland with their enquiries.

“We consider all events on merit and are carrying out a full review, as we do following every show. This will inform our thinking on hosting similar such events in the future.”