Prince Naseem Hamed and Chris Eubank were involved in an impromptu bout of sparring at Heathrow Airport yesterday. Hamed and Eubank came to blows when Eubank arrived at the airport for a meeting with the promoter of both fighters, Frank Warren.

The Sun newspaper reports that Hamed began by taunting Eubank with his championship belts. Eubank responded by grabbing them and hurling them to the floor before Hamed threw a punch and both men had to be separated by minders.

Eubank (31) told the newspaper: "He (Hamed) was taunting and goading me and I'm afraid he got my goat. Unfortunately I stooped to his level. I grabbed the belts and threw them to the floor. I realise now that I shouldn't have done it.

"The next thing I know he's taken a swing at me . . . I went as if to slap him with my open hand, but I would never hit him because he's so much smaller than me."

A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed: "Police were called to an incident at Heathrow this morning. On arrival they gave advice to people at the scene. There were no arrests and no further action was taken."