The World Series of Poker Circuit’s most successful player was involved in a violent altercation at a poker game.
On Thursday, poker pro Rob Kuhn tweeted a video of Maurice Hawkins engaging in a fistfight with an unidentified poker player at what appears to be an underground private game.
The video shows Hawkins’ opponent throwing punches while Hawkins tries to take out his legs and wrestle him to the ground.
🚨BREAKING🚨
MAURICE HAWKINS GETS BEAT UP IN POKER ROOM pic.twitter.com/txZOBlUItd
— Rob Kuhn (@RobKuhn_) November 28, 2025
In the early hours of Friday morning, Hawkins responded to the social media posts about the incident. He tweeted a video of his own that showed the lead-up to the fight.
Hawkins’ video doesn’t show any actual violence. However, it does show people walking out a back door and onto a patio with a grill, confirming it was a game held at a private residence.
In the tweet, Hawkins said the man tried to “sucker punch and sneak attack” the Circuit’s all-time ring leader.
The Narratives are hilarious . 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 . When I got to my feet . Here you go . The truth of what happened . pic.twitter.com/Kz5mZSRA3R
— EatingOnAllStages (@mauricehawkins) November 28, 2025
For all you Twitter warriors.Think about this. I knew he had a gun and didn’t give a fuck . I either don’t have a regard for my life or I may be someone not to FUCK WITH . Because I live in the REAL WORLD, with REAL LIFE PEOPLE. WHO DO REAL SHIT .
Now you go back to your Tweets.— EatingOnAllStages (@mauricehawkins) November 28, 2025
If your ignorant ass people knew. I was trying to deescalate the situation. With a take down . Instead of literally hurting buddy with my hands . I KNEW THEN THE Headlines would read something different. Because, I remind you of what you couldn’t accomplish . CONSISTENCY
— EatingOnAllStages (@mauricehawkins) November 28, 2025
What Caused The Fight?
It’s still unclear what caused the two to trade blows. Hawkins did not give specifics in his posts.
An anonymous source told PokerNews Hawkins was “running his mouth about how good of a boxer he is.” But another player in the game, Tray Rock, told the outlet that it was a “totally unprovoked attack.”
The two were allegedly arguing about nationalities. Rock alleged that Maurice offered to “box about it” prompting Eugene to get up from his seat and punch Hawkins while he was sitting down.
But Hawkins’ video depicts a story that doesn’t involve him getting punched while sitting at the table. Hawkins has since threatened legal action against PokerNews in a Friday evening post.
Continued Drama Surrounding Hawkins
Hawkins by no means has a violent history, but he is known to be at the center of poker controversy.
Earlier this year, Hawkins won his 19th WSOP Circuit ring after taking down the $400 no-limit hold’em monster stack at the Horseshoe Tunica Circuit stop. After the victory, Denise Pratt, a regular in the low-stakes Circuit events, claimed Hawkins owed her money.
Pratt said she backed Hawkins for several events, including his win. But she claimed Hawkins completely stiffed her on the payout.
Hawkins had already lost a 2019 court ruling to Randy Garcia, another former backer who claimed Hawkins failed to pay. When Pratt made her allegations, Garcia posted that he was still owed the six-figure sum he won six years earlier.
Hawkins has since gone on to win two more rings, bringing his total count to 21.
Unfortunately for the poker industry, fights have become somewhat common recently.
A man playing at Red Rock Casino was knocked unconscious when tensions turned to violence last May. In 2023, Italian player Michele Nizzardelli was disqualified from a European Poker Tour event after fighting a player he had eliminated.
And in 2020, an Aria poker dealer chased down and punched a player after the player berated and threw beer on the dealer.
