Ex-Celtic star John Hartson's punch up with Hollywood hard-man Vinnie Jones

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Celtic legend John Hartson once had a punch-up with football bad boy turned Hollywood hardman Vinnie Jones - to see which of them was the hardest.

The ex-Celtic striker, nicknamed Big Bag John, traded blows with the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Mean Machine star in London.

The Welshman became a fans' favourite during a five-year stay at Celtic Park between 2001 and 2006, which saw him produce many battling displays and score a screamer against Liverpool on route to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final.

And he once showed he was just as much of a handful off the park as he battled it out with fellow Welsh international Vinnie Jones. The fight was brought up this month by retired attacker Terry Gibson.

Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, he said: "Vinnie Jones and John Hartson, best of mates, had a proper fight to see who was the hardest." Host Chris Brown said: "That's a fight I'd like to watch. Hartson and Vinnie Jones."

Gibson, who had spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City, added: "They ended up challenging each other to see who was the hardest and having a scrap in the street."

When asked if the brawl stemmed from an argument the 61-year-old, who also played for Manchester United and was teammates with Jones at Wimbledon, replied: "No, just to see who was the hardest."

The fight was covered by our sister paper The Mirror at the time, while Hartson was at Wimbledon, before he moved north to sign for Martin O'Neill.

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The April 28, 2000 article said police were called to break up the fight, which took place after they had dined together at a restaurant in London's upmarket Mayfair area.

Hartson, who was 25 at the time, and Jones, who was 35, are said to have been left bloodied and with torn shirts but turned down offers of first aid.

Neither made a complaint to police over the incident, which took place after they had enjoyed dinner with former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear.

A source said at the time: "It was an argument over who was the hardest of the two. They decided to sort it out by having a fight. They went outside and tore into each other. That's when police were called."

Jones, who is godfather to Hartson's daughter, shook hands with his pal following the scrap, before they went their separate ways. At the time, Scotland Yard confirmed officers were called to the fight.

A spokesman said: "They apparently know one another and left the scene having resolved the situation. Neither wished to make an allegation.

"They had minor cuts and bruises but declined medical aid. No other members of the public were involved and no further police action will be taken." Hartson, 49, also hit the headlines in August 1998 over a training ground incident.

He booted West Ham teammate Eyal Berkovic, who also later signed for Celtic, in an incident captured on video. Hartson kicked the Israeli midfielder on the chin. Berkovic said afterwards: "If my head was a ball it would have been in the top corner of the net.

"Hartson kicked me in the head and it wasn't a light kick for a warning. It was from the heart. He behaved in a way I have never seen before on a football pitch.

"I was on the floor for about ten minutes and there was plenty of blood about. There must be something wrong with a player who kicks another one in the head and is not upset about it. A different player would have been out of the club."

Hartson also played for Luton Town, Arsenal, West Ham United, Coventry City West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City in his playing career, as well as earning 51 caps for Wales.

In 2009, two years after he retired, he received chemotherapy for testicular cancer which had spread to his brain. In his time in Glasgow he won three league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup.

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