Lee Appleyard shoved Levi Kinsiona as tempers flared between the super-lightweights at the weigh-in for The BOXXER Series tournament in Liverpool.
Eight fighters will collide in the exciting one-night tournament, live on Sky Sports, with the winner securing a big cash prize in Liverpool.
BOXXER Series quarter-finals:
Kane Gardner vs Nathan Bennett
Tom Farrell vs Ben Fields
Lee Appleyard vs Levi Kinsiona
Sean Dodd vs Cori Gibbs
Appleyard was drawn against Kinsiona, reigniting their rivalry after past sparring sessions, and they traded heated words before the Rotherham boxer lashed out.
“I just don’t like the kid now,” Appleyard told Sky Sports. “I don’t like his arrogance.
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“I’m going to be on his chest and I’m going to beat him up.
“You’re not going to realise how busy I’m going to be.”
Kinsiona shrugged off the confrontation, telling Sky Sports: “He’s getting a little bit aggy.
“We don’t let the emotions get the better of us.
“He’s a 33-year-old man. Act your age.”
Kane Gardner and Nathan Bennett were also hauled apart after they become embroiled in an angry exchange.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow night now. Demolition job,” said Gardner.
Every competitor weighed inside the limit, with Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd raising cheers from the crowd after he lifted opponent Cori Gibbs off his feet.
“It’s all fun and games, but tomorrow we go to work,” said Gibbs. “I’m serious tomorrow. This is my tournament.”
Tom Farrell, a highly-rated amateur, is hoping to revive his career as he faces Ben Fields in his opening bout.
“There’s no easy fights, everyone is capable in their own way,” said Farrell.
“Ben is a tough competitor but I’m more than ready.”
Watch BOXXER Series on a free vertical app stream
The BOXXER Series will become the first ever Sky Sports Boxing event to be broadcasted on the Sky Sports app on a vertical viewing stream.
You can watch the tournament via a free vertical stream fully optimised to viewing on a mobile device – and you do not have to be a Sky customer to enjoy a ground-breaking evening of action.
Simply head to the boxing page, or the main headlines section on the Sky Sports app to locate the free stream, then click on the streaming story to watch.
Watch The BOXXER Series, a dramatic one-night tournament on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 8pm.