Twenty-one-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Maurice Hawkins was involved in a brawl at a home poker game in Palm Beach County, Florida. Based on video obtained by poker media outlet PokerNews and first-hand accounts, it appears that Hawkins was the victim and did not provoke the attack.
The person who sent the video to PokerNews said Hawkins, who, in addition to being the all-time WSOP Circuit ring leader, is also known for his abrasive trash talk, was “….running his mouth about how good of a boxer he is, poking and talking shit to another player who had enough.”
Another player in the game, Tray Rock, told PokerNews that the attack was “totally unprovoked,” explaining: “Maurice and I said we were of African American nationality and Eugene said that’s not a nationality, he googled it. And Maurice was (like) so what. What you wanna do, box about it, and Eugene walked from the 2 seat to the 7 seat and started punching Maurice while he was sitting down.”
A guy tried to sucker punch me and sneak attack me. While I am in my seat.”
In a social media post on Thursday night, Hawkins snapped back at some reports that he was “beat up,” saying: “A guy tried to sucker punch me and sneak attack me. While I am in my seat. Then you post I got my ass whoop. Fucking hilarious. What you think happens. If I don’t get grabbed.”
He included a video, seemingly after the incident, of him confronting the assailant, daring the man to try to start a fight with him now that he is standing and ready. Other people at the home poker game separated the two, urging them to calm down.
While he doesn’t have a history of physical altercations, Hawkins does have a history of angering opponents with his brash demeanor, so it isn’t necessarily a surprise to hear someone say that he was “running his mouth,” though that’s certainly no excuse for someone to assault him.
He has also made enemies in the poker world over alleged failure to pay on financial backing deals. In 2019, a court ordered Hawkins to pay backer Randy Garcia $115,828.34, but this April, Garcia went public to say he had yet to be paid back.
Also in April, Denise Pratt posted a video of Hawkins’ hostile reaction to her when she confronted him about an alleged debt he owed her. In the thread on X, Pratt said: “He’s the worst thing for poker ever.”
