Joey Barton, banned from the Newcastle team for the rest of the season, is to fight Manny Pacquiao. He told reporters he "just wants to smack the little shit for giving his mate Ricky Hatton a good shoeing".
"Anyone who punches a mate of mine is going to get a kick in the jacobs" said Barton.
On being advised that kicking is not in Queensbury rules Barton pointed out that it would never bother him.
In football where punching, gouging, high tackles and smacking the odd black bloke from behind are also considered a faux pas he has also flagrantly ignored the rules.
"So I may get a red card and a ticking off from the manager, they can't send be back to chokey for that"
Big Vern, Barton's cellmate in Broadmoor, welcomed the thought of him returning to the intimacy of a single bunk.
