Madison Square Garden warns that anyone fighting can be 'banned for life' after brawls at event

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FILE - Shakur Stevenson, left, throws a punch at Oscar Valdez during the WBC-WBO junior lightweight title boxing bout Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, file)

FILE - Teofimo Lopez, right, punches Scotland's Josh Taylor during the ninth round of a welterweight title bout, Saturday, June 10, 2023 in New York. Lopez won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, file) — FILE - Shakur Stevenson, left, throws a punch at Oscar Valdez during the WBC-WBO junior lightweight title boxing bout Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, file)

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7:01 AM on Saturday, January 31

By BRIAN MAHONEY

NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Square Garden says anyone fighting at the arena threatens to be “banned for life” after there were multiple altercations at one of its events.

Video on TMZ.com showed two fights breaking out Friday, when fighters weighed in for the boxing card Saturday night headlined by Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson. One of the videos showed a brawl starting as Bill Haney, father of boxer Devin Haney, was conducting an interview near the stage.

“Violence will not be condoned at MSG across any type of event including, hockey, basketball, boxing, concerts, or special events," Madison Square Garden said in a statement. "If any individual is found to participate in violent activity, whether you are part of the event, or a patron, you will be banned for life and unable to attend or participate in any event across all our venues.”

The press conference Thursday for the title fight between Lopez and Stevenson became heated as the fighters on stage traded insults about family members, with people in the audience also shouting.

There was also an altercation near the cage on Nov. 15 when MSG hosted UFC 322.

The warning comes ahead of a busy weekend at the arena. Organizers said the boxing event is sold out, and on Sunday the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Knicks for a nationally televised game that could be LeBron James' final one at the arena.