Madison Square Garden warns brawlers of life bans before Lopez vs Stevenson

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 31, 2026 at 02:01 PM

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Madison Square Garden issued a warning that anyone engaging in violent behavior at its events will be banned for life. The announcement, made before the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson boxing match and a Knicks vs. Lakers game, follows multiple altercations at a recent weigh-in event and a prior UFC event in November. Videos surfaced showing brawls during the boxing weigh-in, including one involving Bill Haney, father of boxer Devin Haney. MSG's statement emphasizes that violence will not be tolerated at any event, including hockey, basketball, boxing, concerts, or special events. The warning precedes a busy weekend at the venue, including a sold-out boxing event and a nationally televised Knicks-Lakers game.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

LeBron James 40% UFC 322 40% Devin Haney 50% Los Angeles Lakers 50% Bill Haney 60% Knicks ×260% New York 70% Teofimo Lopez ×380% Shakur Stevenson ×380% Madison Square Garden ×490%

Keywords

madison square garden 100% life bans 90% violence 80% altercations 70% shakur stevenson 60% boxing 60% teofimo lopez 60% basketball 50% ufc 50% sporting events 40%