Footy commentator Paul Kent reveals stunning new claims about pub street fight that ended his career – as he opens up about his plans for the future

Paul Kent and controversy seemingly go hand in hand – and now the former sports journalist has revealed fresh claims about the infamous street fight that effectively ended his media career.

Kent, 55, also confirmed his future plans, starting with the launch of his own podcast Kenty, featuring convicted criminal and former NRL star John Elias as a co-host.

Speaking on the CHIMING IN podcast with respected footy player agent Steve ‘Chimes’ Gillis, Kent acknowledged consuming 21 beers at the Sackville Hotel in Rozelle on April 27 last year was a recipe for disaster – but also said he was capable of drinking more.

‘It wasn’t championship pace drinking, it was over 11 hours… but when the other bloke [Tamer Uzun] said to me, “Oh that’s right, you like to bash women,” I responded,’ Kent said.

‘What many people don’t know is that before our brawl – if you can call it that given neither of us actually landed a punch – we had a chat about the Bulldogs.

‘Where I’m from [Kent grew up on the NSW Central Coast] sometimes dictates how you act….you don’t let people shit pot you.

‘I’ll also ask this…..what happened to the other bloke [Uzun]? He got off scot free [in my eyes].’ 

Uzun has pleaded not guilty to a charge of affray and sought to have the charge withdrawn during a court appearance last August. The matter will return to court later this year. 

Kent certainly came off second best on the night in question – he was thrown into a tree, leaving him with six broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

The veteran scribe – who was the face of NRL 360 on Fox League before his dramatic fall from grace – also stated he wasn’t keen to go to a hospital the day after as he was ’embarrassed he may be photographed.’

He believed rivals at Fairfax and TV networks would look to ‘inflict some damage’ on his employers News Corp and Fox Sports, not necessarily Kent himself following the saga.

Kent then questioned why police pursued the matter. 

‘If I didn’t have a public profile, would I have been charged?’ he asked.

‘But I’m not feeling sorry for myself… I put myself in the situation, s**t happens, you [have to] move on. 

‘There is also a degree of penance, people believe you should suffer.

‘But if the previous drama [a domestic violence allegation regarding his ex-partner Lucy Kennedy, of which Kent was found not guilty] doesn’t happen… neither does the second incident.’ 

In a revealing chat with Gillis, Kent goes onto discuss the changing media landscape in relation to ‘clickbait journalism’ and why he loathes social media. 

Kent later concedes he ‘can’t get a mainstream media job now, as no one is brave enough to hire me’.

He also delves into why he left Triple M in controversial circumstances following a spat with radio personality Anthony Maroon, working at a Sydney funeral parlour after losing his coveted roles at News Corp and Fox Sports – and what is next.

‘The (podcast) focus will be issues around the game,’ Kent said. ‘I am working on a few guests, including getting ARLC boss Peter V’Landys via zoom for a chat from Las Vegas.

‘But if the podcast is a bust, I’ll move on and try something new.’

Following his unfair dismissal claim against News Corp – which was settled privately last year – it emerged Kent has privately been dealing with a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome for almost a decade.

Asperger’s syndrome is a ‘high-functioning’ form of autism disorder which can affect a person’s understanding of what is going on around them.

People with Asperger’s might have good cognitive and language skills but still experience difficulties with communication and social interaction.