• Premier League

Balotelli loses boxing match to United fan

ESPN staff
January 7, 2012
Mario Balotelli is often in the headlines for his off-the-field antics © AFP
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Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was spotted venting his frustrations on a punchball at an amusement arcade.

Balotelli, who is famed for his off-the-pitch antics, missed Manchester City's defeat to Sunderland on New Year's Day with an ankle problem, but showed no sign of a injury as he hammered the electronic boxing machine - challenging a Manchester United fan to a contest.

The pair spent 15 minutes trading blows, but Balotelli was unable to beat Matt Sherrington.

"Mario never got a higher score than me. He needs to train a bit harder," Sherrington told the Sun. "Mario is competitive but so am I. He took the defeat well. When he left, he smiled at me and said, 'Well done, see you later'."

City insisted Balotelli had fully recovered from his injury by Monday, only to fall ill on Tuesday and miss their win against Liverpool: "Mario was free to do what he wanted in his own time," a spokesman said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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