Glasgow's Ovo Hydro is unlikely to host another bare-knuckle boxing event soon after a mass brawl broke out outside the venue following Saturday night's show. About 9,000 people attended the first ever Scottish Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card in Glasgow, but the evening ended with disorder that spread onto the Clyde Arc bridge.
Police Scotland described the scenes as disgraceful after three officers were hurt and two men were arrested. The disturbance came after the main event on Saturday, when Sean Weir defeated Leigh Cohoon as the referee stopped the fight in the first round.
What happened after the show?
The Hydro said the event had been carried out safely inside the venue itself, but that did not stop trouble erupting once the fighting was over. Several weeks before the event, a member of the public had already written to Glasgow City Council to raise concerns about the show.
When the disorder broke out on Saturday night, it took a major police response to contain it. More than 20 police vehicles and a police helicopter were involved as officers moved to deal with the brawl outside the arena.
Why future bookings now look doubtful
Bare-knuckle fighting events have been growing in popularity and can attract big crowds, but the fallout from this one may have lasting consequences. Scotland understands the venue now considers further bare-knuckle boxing matches unlikely.
That would be a significant shift after the first ever Scottish Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship show in Glasgow. It had been staged with the promise of a major sporting night, but the ending has left the Hydro facing difficult questions about whether it will want to take the risk again.
There is also a precedent from earlier in 2025, when a previous bare-knuckle event at East Kilbride's Gladiators Arena was abandoned before the main event after fighting broke out between groups of fans. For the Hydro, that history will only deepen the concern around future bookings.
