Former world super-middleweight boxing champion Steve Collins today denied he punched a doorman who did not recognise him and refused him entry to a bout.
The Irish champion fighter told a court he was acting in self defence when he scuffled with Adrialik Voda outside the National Boxing Stadium in Dublin.
The 44-year-old, who now lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm on June 3rd, 2006.
Mr Collins also dismissed allegations he asked the doorman did he not know who he was and that he later challenged Mr Voda to another private fight in his car.
The former champion told Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court he had been in the stadium commentating for RTÉ and had gone outside for a short break when Mr Voda blocked him from going back in.
He claimed Mr Voda pushed him on the chest twice and ignored people who had gathered around telling him that he was Steve Collins and was working for station.
"He was becoming more and more aggressive and menacing," said Mr Collins.
"I knew from his body language through the experience of my career over 25 years that he was going to assault me," he added.
Mr Collins said he could predict what was going to happen, felt threatened, and that his sole move was to get out of danger and out of Mr Voda's grip.
"I was not the aggressor. Everything I did was pure self-defence."
He told Judge Des Hogan he previously trained in California with kickboxer Benny 'The Jet' who had taught him a martial arts defence manoeuvre. The boxer alleged that as Mr Voda lunged forward he lifted his right arm to block the attack and made contact with the doorman's in the face.
He denied punching Mr Voda in the face.
Mr Collins said he also believed Mr Voda was on steroids at the time, was 20lbs heavier, and that he understood the effects of steroids and that they would have effected his personality.
Mr Voda (37), maintains he was punched by the boxer without any provocation when he refused him entry through a fire door being used by VIPs, medics and the media because he was not carrying a pass.
Mr Voda suffered two fractured teeth in the incident.
Last week Mr Voda's boss Sean Jordan told the court how Mr Collins was "like a caged animal" shouting obscenities at the Albanian bouncer while a paramedic revealed he heard Collins tell the bouncer "if you don't know who I am, you will in a few minutes" before he allegedly punched him.
But today, A&E consultant Dr Joe McKeever - who treated Mr Collins at the scene and sent him to hospital for treatment - maintained Mr Voda was extremely aggressive and menacing on the night and had stopped him twice at the same door.
"I have encountered people with a violent disposition working in hospital. I have never been at the receiving end of any violence," he said.
Head of security at the stadium, Gavin Blanchfield, said that as he ushered Mr Collins back inside Mr Voda pushed past him.
"I'm not exactly sure how, but his hands hit Steve Collins on the chest to push him back," he added. "Steven hit Mr Voda."
The jury of 10 men and two women are expected to retire to consider the verdict tomorrow.
PA