Long before they were hit with career-ending bans for match-fixing, two professional snooker players, Mark King and Quinten Hann, settled a personal rivalry by stepping into the boxing ring for a bizarre event dubbed “Pot Whack.”
The grudge match, which took place in 2004 at London’s famous York Hall, was sparked by an insult that quickly escalated into a physical challenge.
The trouble began when Australia’s Quinten Hann, known as one of snooker’s more divisive personalities, insulted fellow player Andy Hicks by calling him “short and bald” and challenging him to a boxing match.
Mark King Steps In: England’s Mark King, who was also bald, found the insult irresistible. He stepped in to take Hicks’ place, welcoming the opportunity to punch his bitter rival Hann.
The two pros faced off in a brief but fierce six-minute scrap. Ultimately, it was Hann who triumphed on points, winning the boxing match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Role: Snooker legend and seven-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan presented the winner’s belt to Hann.
Both players would later find themselves permanently on snooker’s blacklist due to severe betting and match-fixing violations. Their combined bans total 17 years of exclusion from the sport.
Quinten Hann (12-Year Ban): Hann’s boxing victory came in between two acquittals from rape accusations. Immediately after the second case concluded, he was hit with accusations of match-fixing in 2005. He was subsequently banned for 12 years.
Mark King (5-Year Ban): King, the former Northern Ireland Open champion, was initially suspended by the WPBSA in 2023. He was found guilty of match-fixing and providing inside information relating to one of his matches. His five-year ban was ratified in May 2025, and he was also ordered to pay over £113,000 in costs.
This bizarre boxing match stands as a unique, chaotic chapter in snooker history, involving two players whose careers were ultimately defined by scandal, not skill.