Two snooker players, collectively banned from teh sport for 17 years following separate misconduct investigations, recently stepped into the boxing ring for a charity grudge match.Mark king and Quinten Hann, both former professionals, faced off in a bout promoted as a “no-holds-barred” event, raising funds for a local hospice.
The unusual pairing stems from disciplinary actions taken against both players: Hann was initially banned for 12 years in 2005, while King received a five-year suspension in november 2023. Their meeting in the boxing ring represents a rare instance of athletes sanctioned for integrity violations crossing over into another combat sport, highlighting the lasting consequences of rule breaches and offering a unique spectacle for fans.
King’s ban originated from findings of match-fixing and providing inside facts related to a snooker match. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) suspended him in 2023,and despite an appeal,the five-year sanction was upheld in May 2024,dating back to the initial suspension. He was also ordered to pay over £113,000 in costs, though charges concerning a separate match against John Higgins were dropped.
Hann’s lengthy ban, imposed in 2005, followed an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding a match against Joe jogia. The 12-year exclusion effectively ended his professional snooker career.
The charity boxing match, held in Stoke-on-Trent, provided both players with an opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause and engage with fans outside the realm of professional snooker. While the outcome of the boxing match itself is secondary, the event underscores the enduring repercussions of their past actions within the sport.
