Madison Square Garden has issued a strong warning following a series of altercations that occurred during an event on Friday. The venue, which was hosting weigh-ins for the highly anticipated fight between Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez, became the scene of chaos as multiple brawls broke out.
Footage obtained by TMZ reveals several scuffles, including one near the stage as tensions escalated shortly after the boxers stepped off the scale. A group of individuals could be seen exchanging blows after a heated verbal confrontation, while Bill Haney, father of WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, attempted to mediate but found himself pulled into the ruckus.
In another video circulating online, a separate fight erupted in a hallway near exit doors, drawing in bystanders until they intervened to break up the melee.
These disturbances unfolded in an already charged atmosphere, exacerbated by a contentious press conference on Thursday where Lopez and Stevenson traded personal barbs involving each other’s families. The heated exchanges drew the crowd into the fray, igniting further tensions.
In light of these incidents, Madison Square Garden announced on Saturday a strict policy against violence, stating that anyone involved in fighting at the arena could face a lifetime ban from all MSG Entertainment Group venues, which include Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre.
“Violence will not be condoned at MSG across any type of event,” company representatives asserted. “If any individual is found to participate in violent activity, whether you’re part of the event or a patron, you will be banned for life from our venues.”
This new policy comes just before a bustling weekend at Madison Square Garden, featuring the sold-out boxing match and a highly anticipated game between the Knicks and Lakers on Sunday. The emphasis on maintaining a safe environment reflects MSG’s commitment to providing a positive experience for all attendees.