The real superfight: Prescott vs Crick

The former deputy prime minister was famously nicknamed “two jabs” in 2001 when he punched a protestor after being egged in Rhyl, North Wales.

Today’s encounter was more good-natured, with Crick agreeing to a quick sparring session at Redcar Amateur Boxing Club, where Lord Prescott was supporting local parliamentary candidate Anna Turley.

Crick landed the first blow – a jab to the pit of the peer’s stomach.

“Oh, you want to hit, do you?” said Lord Prescott, before catching the reporter with a right to the chin, prompting Crick to remark: “It’s getting quite vicious, this.”

Cautious Crick

The fight then followed the pattern some pundits are predicting ahead of this weekend’s record-breaking bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, with Crick playing the cautious, defensive Mayweather role.

A Labour North spokesperson claimed the fight had been “an easy win for Prescott”, adding: “Crick entered the ring, confident of victory but, showing form, the Labour veteran quickly made easy work of the prize fighter from Channel 4 News.”

This is not the first time Crick has come in for some rough treatment from a politician. Ukip’s Godfrey Bloom hit him over the head with a party brochure during in 2013.