Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Harry Davies

NBA star Nick Young sent through the ropes by headbutt in farcical boxing debut

Former NBA star Nick 'Swaggy P' Young was sent crashing through the ropes after claiming his opponent Malcolm Minikon landed an illegal headbutt.

Young, 37, is mostly known for his time spent playing with the Los Angeles Lakers and also being the former partner of Australian rapper Iggy Azalea. He was making his boxing debut against internet star Minikon at the Social Gloves 2 event in an un-scored exhibition fight scheduled for five rounds. As the fight got underway, it was clear the 6'7" Young had no boxing ability but he used his size advantage to stay at range.

The mouthpiece of Minikon was sent flying courtesy of a a big shot from Young in the second round, only for Minikon to fire back with a big punch of his own. Both men were slowing down in the third stanza as the fight was halted after Minikon landed to the back of Young's head. Whilst the pair were pressed up against the ropes in the fourth round, Minikon sent Young through the ropes in a bizarre sequence that saw the fight waved off.

Young went on to claim he was headbutted by Minikon, despite replays of the incident suggesting otherwise. "I felt good, I hit him a lot, I felt I came and did what I had to do. He hit me with a cheap shot and that's what you've got to do when you're losing. I don't want him getting a headbutt at the end and thinking he won off a headbutt, I don't know how you can think he won," he said.

Minikon filled in for Blueface on just two days' notice to fight Young after the rapper was denied a license to box in California. Minikon, who denied headbutting Young, insisted he would have performed better if he had more time to prepare for the fight. "I had two days to prepare, I definitely would have given a better show if I had more time to prepare but it's whatever," he said.

What were your thoughts on the fight between Nick Young and Minikon? Let us know in the comments section below

"I respect that man over there, I don't feel like I headbutted him, they said I headbutted him but whatever, I put it on for the triple D. Bedford, Funkytown Fort Worth, we out here. I hit him in the back of the head one time, I apologise for that but that's it.

"I mean, Blueface already know, he saw if he wants it I'm right here, easy."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.