Riot breaks out at Irish boxing event after Robinson throws book at fighter

A boxing event in Kilkenny erupted into chaos after a fighter leapt from the ring to confront political activist Tommy Robinson. According to the Mirror ^[1], the brawl unfolded at The Hub during an influencer boxing night headlined by rappers Russ Millions and Kirky. The incident began when Mo Deen, who had just secured a stoppage victory, jumped over the announcers' desk to lunge at Robinson, who was watching from ringside.

The Guardian reported ^[2] that the atmosphere turned tense when organiser Harrison Sullivan invited Robinson to the commentator’s desk. Robinson, holding a copy of his book The Grooming Gang Cover-Up, reportedly made controversial comments about Muslims, which offended the racially diverse crowd. After Deen won his fight, he climbed out of the ring and threw punches at Robinson, sparking an initial scuffle before security intervened.

Violence escalated when Sullivan demanded Deen return for an unscheduled face-off. As Deen was escorted back, Robinson threw his book at him, triggering a mass brawl. Chairs and barricades were thrown as hundreds of spectators joined the melee. The Independent ^[3] confirmed that Robinson was knocked backwards during the clash, with footage showing him later entering the ring to hold up his book to the crowd.

Irish police arrested two people following the riot. A Garda spokesperson stated ^[3] that a man in his 30s was assaulted and taken to St Luke’s Hospital, while another man in his 20s was detained. A teenage boy was also charged with violent disorder. The Guardian ^[2] noted that the event, livestreamed to 1.8 million viewers, ended early after venue security blocked attempts to restart the fights.

Robinson, 43, is currently on bail awaiting sentencing for harassing two journalists. The Mirror ^[1] quoted Deen as saying he was "following the script" and had not intended to cause trouble, expressing confusion over the backlash. Sullivan admitted he had made mistakes by not hiring enough security, calling the night "great entertainment" that went viral. The incident highlights the volatile nature of influencer-led sporting events, which often blend performance with genuine social tension.