Tyson dinner ends in mass brawl

Source:LONDON, England (CNN)

Guests at a British boxing dinner for former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson launched into a mass brawl.

Police said they were called to a “large fight” at the Heritage Hotel in Derby, central England, where Tyson had appeared to launch a four-date promotional tour of Britain.

Around 20 people were involved in the brawl Tuesday evening, which saw chairs hurled, tables tipped over, glasses smashed and punches thrown.

Derbyshire Police said that one person taken to hospital had complained of being hit over the head with a champagne bottle.

The fight began during an auction of boxing and Tyson-related memorabilia, British media reports said.

Among the guests at the “black tie” function on Tuesday night, where tickets cost £127 ($220) a head, was former British heavyweight champion Frank Bruno.

Tyson and Bruno had answered questions from the 500-strong crowd after a meal and left before the trouble started.

Derbyshire Police said they received an emergency call at 11.35 p.m. (2335 GMT) that “a large fight” was taking place at hotel.

When police arrived, there was no fighting, said the force, but several people had suffered minor injuries. One was taken by ambulance to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, but had since been discharged.

There were no arrests. Police launched an appeal for witnesses Wednesday.

It was Tyson’s first date in a series of dinner functions in Britain. Other dates are planned for Birmingham, Manchester and London.

The Heritage Hotel declined to comment.