Casino mogul James Packer had to be dragged off his former best mate, Channel Nine boss David Gyngell, following a vicious fist fight that left both bruised and battered outside the billionaire’s Bondi mansion on Sunday afternoon.
The brawl erupted when James, 46, arrived home to find childhood friend David, 47, waiting for him. A nasty war of words broke out before punches began to fly.
The pair have not spoken for almost 12 months and friends say their relationship became even more strained after James ended his marriage to model Erica Packer six months ago, with David taking Erica’s side in the split.
On Sunday their feud reached a very public crescendo.
In the out-of-control melee on the footpath outside the multi-million dollar residence, both threw punches before James knocked David to the ground and the fight continued.
The brawl was eventually broken up by two men, possibly bodyguards, who work for James. The men had only flown back into Sydney from Israel on one of his private jets two hours earlier and appeared to be red-eyed and jet-lagged.
David was seen waiting outside James’s home for about 20 minutes, sitting on the boot of his own car before James arrived at his home, which overlooks Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach on Campbell Parade.
The two men, who previously shared the Bondi home with their respective wives, didn’t even greet each other before the insults began to fly thick and fast.
Both men landed punches before David was tackled to the ground and the pair wrestled, all the while punching and hurling abuse. It didn’t end until the other men dragged James away and restrained him.
Both men were left clearly shaken, with shocked Bondi locals saying David drove himself back to his home in Dover Heights, while James took refuge in his palatial home. A doctor was seen arriving at the address a short time later.
“Their relationship has been terrible for months,” reports one family friend.
“I know James feels David should not have so openly sided with Erica in the divorce, he feels David owed him his loyalty. I’m not that surprised it has come to this, but it’s really sad considering they have been friends for more than 40 years.”
