Vinnie Jones beaten up by ex-boxer in wild-west style brawl

Footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones is said to have been beaten up by a former boxer in what has been described as a 'wild west' style brawl. Jones, 45, had been drinking with friends in Los Angeles' plush Chateau Marmont Hotel when the fight erupted between him and former fighter-turned-actor Tamer Hassan, 42.

According to onlookers, the two had been cracking jokes before Jones began making sarcastic remarks, and the exchange became heated when Hassan, suggested they discuss the matter outside. "Neither Vinnie or Tamer were backing down," the Mirror quoted a source as saying.

"Minutes earlier they were joking but it appears Vinnie took things too far. When Tamer suggested it may be best to discuss their problem outside all hell broke loose. It was like something out of a wild west film. Fists were flying and at one point the two of them were grappling on the floor. If they hadn't been pulled apart God knows when it would have stopped. There was a lot of shouting and swearing. It was bizarre. Vinnie took a good hiding," the source revealed.

As the pair, due to be filming their latest film, 'Magic Boys', writhed on the ground 'Tropic Thunder' star Justin Theroux stepped in to pull them apart. Insiders said the fight had been brewing since the pair had a run-in over New Year. They claimed Jones refused to let the matter drop and approached Hassan to discuss it.

At one point they seemed set to make up, but Jones allegedly slapped Hassan's outstretched hand away. "My client informs me that he was subjected to an unprovoked attack. He regrets being put in the position of having to defend himself, but defend himself he did," Hassan's lawyer Eddie Parladorio said.

A spokesman for Jones said: "Vinnie was having a business dinner when he got involved in an altercation. Following the incident he returned to his table. Yesterday he was playing football with his Hollywood team as he always does on a Sunday," he added.