Rugby league pundit Paul Kent has been sacked from his job as a commentator after he was allegedly filmed taking part in a wild street fight outside a Sydney hotel.
Kent was sacked by both Fox Sports, where he was a pugnacious presenter on NRL 360, and News Corp, for which he wrote regular columns in The Daily Telegraph.
The 54-year-old is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday after indicating he would seek a charge of affray on mental health grounds.
Police allege Kent and Tamer Uzun, 35, became involved in a verbal argument that turned physical outside Three Weeds in Rozelle, in the inner city, at around 11pm on April 27.
Footage of the altercation allegedly captured Kent calling Uzun a “dog head” and charging towards him as bystanders attempted to intervene.
The confrontation spilled over to the other side of the street when Kent appeared to try to punch Uzun before being thrown against a tree and falling headlong into the ditch.
Kent’s attorney, George Elias, told a magistrate in May that his client would cite cognitive impairment in his defense as he sought treatment for mental health and alcohol issues.
“Shortly after this alleged incident, he sought urgent psychological help,” Elias said. “He has been seeing his GP, who has referred him to Burwood Hospital.”
Rugby league commentator Paul Kent (above) has been sacked from his commentary job after being filmed allegedly taking part in a wild street fight outside a Sydney hotel.
Magistrate Scott Nash He agreed to a six-week adjournment for Kent to receive a treatment plan from a new doctor and dismissed his bail reporting conditions.
Kent was suspended by Fox Sports and News Corp the day after the alleged fight “pending an immediate investigation.”
The Australian reported on Monday that Kent had since parted ways with both employers.
A News Corp spokesman and a Fox Sports spokeswoman said neither company would comment on labor issues.
Kent did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him, but the Daily Mail Australia confirmed he was fired several weeks ago.
Uzun faced Downing Centre Local Court in June when he pleaded not guilty to affray over his alleged role in the melee outside the pub.
Solicitor Bryan Wrench said he had obtained CCTV footage of Kent drinking at a nearby hotel before the confrontation with his client.
“The footage shows the other party drinking 21 schooners and shadow boxing before the incident,” Wrench said. The other person is Mr Paul Kent.
“We say our client is not the aggressor.”
Daily Mail Australia understands the CCTV footage was filmed at the Sackville Hotel, where Kent regularly drinks.
Uzun’s case has been adjourned until July 19, and Mr Wrench said he would write to police to request the charge against him be dropped.
In December last year, Kent was found not guilty of choking and assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
Following his acquittal, Kent told reporters outside court that he was eager to return to a “normal life.”
“The judge accepted what happened to the point that my lawyer didn’t even have to give a final summary,” he said at the time.
“It’s been seven months where I’ve had to sit there and feel like I’ve been wrongfully arrested and accused, and I’ve had to sit there and have our public reputation tarnished by people who have used it as an opportunity.”
“The truth has finally come out. It has been a great cost to me, it has been a great setback in my life. But we all have our struggles in life.
“This is the only thing left for me to do, so now it’s my turn to pull myself together and get back to my normal life. I can finally leave all this behind.”
