Drunk Crowe called my team a bunch of coconuts then he walloped me
THE tycoon who got into a bar-room brawl with Russell Crowe has revealed why he knocked the Hollywood hellraiser to the floor.
Friends of millionaire Eric Watson say the Gladiator star made a racist taunt, refused to apologise, then punched Mr Watson twice in the face before he retaliated.
They claim drunken Crowe, 38, branded the New Zealand Warriors - a rugby team owned by Mr Watson - "a bunch of coconuts" in a reference to the number of Maoris in the side.
When the furious tycoon ordered him to apologise, he was instead walloped in the face twice by the movie star.
But it was keep-fit fanatic Watson who had the last laugh when he knocked Crowe to the ground during the row in trendy London restaurant Zuma. The star underestimated his 6ft 4ins but slightly- built rival, who came back with a well-placed punch under his right eye.
As the floored actor came round raging, Mr Watson, 43, flew at him again with a new flurry of blows.
At one stage fellow diner Ross Kemp - former EastEnders hard man Grant Mitchell - intervened to keep the pair apart, and police arrived after a call from security staff.
Speaking for the first time about the bust-up, Mr Watson said: "I feel pretty embarrassed about what has happened. I'm still in shock from it all. I want to make it clear I'm not a violent man. I'm not a thug. I'm a respectable businessman."
The millionaire, who has just moved to London to be closer to his eight-year-old son Sam, has been hailed a hero for standing up to notorious brawler Crowe.
The pair - who have both dated Kiwi model-turned-TV presenter Charlotte Dawson - met by chance at the restaurant in Knightsbridge. Mr Watson had only just sat down with a group of friends when Crowe approached him.
He congratulated Mr Watson's team on finishing second in the National Rugby League for New Zealand and Aussie sides.
But Crowe's words were tinged with bitterness. The rugby side that he partly funds - the South Sydney Rabbithos - finished bottom.
"Although Eric believed Russell was speaking tongue-in-cheek, he thanked him for his comments and Russell returned to his table," said a friend of Mr Watson. "It was all very cordial."
But as the evening wore on Crowe began to knock back drinks, becoming rowdy, smashing plates, and shouting.
"Eric got up to use the lavatory and Russell followed. He could tell by his tone of voice and aggressive manner that he was looking for a fight," added the friend.
"He started laying into Eric's club and said they were 'a bunch of coconuts'. This is a real insult in New Zealand - and even more of a cheek coming from an ex-pat Kiwi.
"Just because he's living in Australia he shouldn't forget where he came from."
Police were called around midnight on Tuesday by security staff but neither man wanted to press charges.
Eric Watson is a fitness fanatic who learned to box under the man who trained heavyweight David Tua, the Kiwi who took on Lennox Lewis two years ago.
Speaking from Las Vegas, Kevin Barry said he was not surprised that the tycoon had floored Crowe. "He was a very good straight puncher and could pack a wallop with his right hand," he said.
