We all know football hooligans are proper naughty geezers who love nothing more than a tear-up.
Some still relive their glory days on podcasts and can even tell you the exact number of blokes they ‘did in’ 20 years ago at a tube station near Upton Park.
But there are some terrace nutters who swapped street fighting for professional combat in boxing rings and MMA cages – and below we look at some notable names.
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Dante Hawkins
You’re probably thinking that Spurs rarely come out on top, but the same can’t be said for White Hart Lane lover Dante Hawkins.
That’s because Dante – whose nickname is The Bull – turned his attention to professional MMA after calling it a day against rival fans on Tottenham High Road.
The 34-year-old won four professional fights and suffered one defeat but he has not stepped inside the cage since 2021.
And reminiscing about his time in the Tottenham firm, he spoke on the Anything Goes with James English podcast about lumping a fellow Spurs fan by accident.
He said: “To be fair, I done that to one of my pals, one of the young lot. I did feel bad about it after but I didn’t know who he was, it was a bit dark. I did feel sorry for him. I did actually think he was Chelsea.
“I was hitting him, going ‘you Chelsea c***’, bang, bang, bang and the whole time it was him. I felt bad about it after I’m not gonna lie, I did. But we’re still mates, but I wish it was a Chelsea geezer, I was gutted.”
Anthony Phythian
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Another British hooligan who transformed his life was Anthony Phythian who is unrecognisable since being banned from every stadium.
Anthony – famous for invading a pitch in a boiler suit – turned to boxing in recent years after struggling with booze, grief and his weight.
The Manchester City supporter had a handful of amateur boxing bouts before being granted a pro licence when he was 37.
His last fight came in November 2023 and the light-heavyweight ended up with four wins and three losses to his name before hanging up the gloves. On his Instagram, he refers to himself as a “reformed football lad” and a “former professional boxer”.
He dedicated his transformation to Tyson Fury who had his own remarkable comeback after he binged his way to 28 stone. The Gypsy King, who is bipolar, struggled after reaching the pinnacle of boxing – before his sensational return against Deontay Wilder.
Giving a nod to the boxing champ, Anthony said: “He’s had his own demons and continues to fight them, showing that it doesn’t matter how much fame, money and how successful you are, you can still suffer the pain of mental illness as anyone.
“The fact he made his comeback the way he did is inspiring. I’d like to think I could inspire people just as he has with me, never give up hope, live to fight another day, you never know what tomorrow brings.”
Jiri Prochazka
(Image: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Jiri Prochazka is one of the most formidable fighters in the UFC and has a remarkable professional MMA record of 30 wins and just five losses.
In June he competed for the UFC lightweight belt but once again lost out to Alex Pereira after being knocked out by a devastating head kick.
The 31-year-old is the most famous man featured here and he has just shy of one million followers on Instagram – but he actually started out as a football hooligan.
Prochazka loved street fighting as a kid and this led him to meeting hooligan ultras for FC Zbrojovka Brno, who play in the second division of Czech football.
He then took part in 60-man brawls against rival mobs but unlike many hooligans – he later managed to make fortunes from fighting.
Speaking before UFC 300, he told SunSport: “I’m another person [from who I used to be].
“I’m very happy for this journey. Life is about learning and forgetting everything and practising to do it better, better, better. It’s a way of mastery. But it’s not just a way of mastery in the way of martial arts, but in every part of life. That’s why I like it.”
Artur Szpilka
(Image: Getty Images)
Artur Szpilka, 35, once challenged Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight title of the world – but was knocked out before he could have his hand raised.
But despite just falling short, the fearsome boxer has come a long way from when he fought inside the ‘City of Knives’ where football hooligans chop off hands and murder rivals.
That’s because a young Artur grew up surrounding himself with ultras of Polish second-division side Wisla Krakow.
He did not even like football that much but thrived off fighting rival hooligans and it was during one arranged scrap that he was offered the chance to train with a boxing coach.
Artur soon became the national heavyweight champion before turning pro where he acquired 24 wins and five losses during his career.
And he could credit some of his success in the ring with first fighting with Wisla Krakow hooligans, where the hatred runs deep with bitter rivals MKS Cracovia.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Giving some context about the rivalry, Professor Radoslaw Kossakowski told the Sun: “Krakow is definitely the most dangerous city in Poland for football fans. If you are a normal supporter you shouldn’t – and this is really important for your safety – show your club colours, your scarf or shirt.
“That could be really dangerous if you go to the wrong place in the city. Krakow has become an island of barbarians and gangster-style hooligans. People are killed and murdered.”