Private Sydney
Packer v Gyngell: did he have a glass jaw?
RAW VISION: David Gyngell gives a brief response to media questioning after his punch up with James Packer.
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A set of explosive photos showing billionaire gaming mogul James Packer embroiled in a vicious fist fight with his former best man and the head of Nine Entertainment Group David Gyngell have hit the market this morning.
The images were taken outside Packer's multimillion-dollar Bondi Beach home on Sunday afternoon, and show the pair in the midst of throwing and receiving punches.
![David Gyngell leaves James Packer's Bondi Beach apartment on Monday morning.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140506003113im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2014/05/05/5400842/ind-gyngell-620x349.jpg)
David Gyngell leaves James Packer's Bondi Beach home on Monday morning. Photo: INF
The pair eventually fell to the ground and continued wrestling, before being forcibly separated by people who appeared to be Packer's bodyguards.
Gyngell was waiting outside Packer's house early on Sunday afternoon, sitting on the boot of his car for about 20 minutes as the casino mogul was chauffeured home after arriving aboard his private jet at Sydney Airport.
Witnesses said no pleasantries were exchanged when Packer saw Gyngell, but rather a flurry of profanities broke out before the pair were embroiled in a physical exchange as passers-by looked on in shock.
![James Packer and his then wife Erica in 2012.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140506003113im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2014/05/05/5401326/art-james-erica-packer-620x349.jpg)
James Packer and his then wife Erica in 2012. Photo: Jesse Marlow
Both Packer and Gyngell retreated to their respective homes following the bust-up, and a short time later a person who appeared to be a medical professional attended Packer's home.
According to alleged witness claims, people were spotted looking for teeth outside Packer's home shortly following the exchange.
A woman who lives in an apartment building opposite Packer's home said that, while she did not want to comment on the fight, she did find dentures on the street shortly afterwards.
![James Packer](http://web.archive.org./web/20140506003113im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2014/01/30/5118584/art-packer-620x349.jpg)
James Packer in a file picture. Photo: Rob Homer
There is no suggestion the dentures belong to either of the men.
While it is unclear which party is missing the teeth, PS has been informed that Packer is today sporting a black eye while Gyngell's face appears to have escaped unscathed.
What the pictures show
![Leila McKinnon, David Gyngell and son Ted](http://web.archive.org./web/20140506003113im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2014/02/22/5190573/art-353-807038980-300x0.jpg)
David Gyngell with Leila McKinnon and son Ted. Photo: INF
There are more than 50 pictures in the set. They show the two men squaring off, tugging at each other's shirts and grappling before falling to the ground and wrestling.
Other men – possibly Packer's bodyguards – intervene while the fighters are upright as well as when they are on the ground.
Packer towers over the smaller Gyngell.
Packer is wearing a black baseball cap and sunglasses.
Gyngell is bearded, barefoot and wearing black tracksuit pants with a thick white stripe.
Both men are wearing blue or grey T-shirts.
A black car is in the background.
On the ground, Packer is on top and has Gyngell’s head in a grip. Gyngell’s bare feet are flailing.
One of the other men grabs Packer around the mouth.
Amid a scrum on the ground, Packer is eventually pulled off Gyngell and on to his feet. He has lost his sunglasses.
Packer, looking defiant, walks away, his lips clenched .
Gyngell looks shaken, his shoulders hunched.
Then a man – possibly a doctor, wearing a suit and without a tie – arrives carrying a case.
Holy crap, big street fight outside my house ... Not thugs, James Packer ... And some other angry bloke going toe... http://t.co/FK7LwzlbpP
— Chris Walker (@CW_Innerwealth) May 4, 2014
Channel Nine news truck
Sources have confirmed reports of a Channel Nine news truck being parked near Packer's home, with suggestions circulated that Packer had believed he was about to be greeted with a news crew.
However, it was Gyngell who had assured Packer the truck was parked there by coincidence as one of his news staff lived close by and was on-call.
Packer has long been wary of media scrutiny, and while the truck's presence could have been the "trigger point", associates confirmed the fight was really over long simmering tension between the men.
Gyngell at Packer house today
Gyngell and Packer later released a joint statement on the fight: "We have been friends for 35 years and still are. In that time we have had our fair share of ups and downs. We respect each other and neither of us will be commenting further."
About 10am today, Gyngell was seen leaving Packer's property, wearing a suit and looking less dishevelled than he did yesterday. His beard was gone, too.
Gyngell was later seen arriving at Channel Nine's offices in Willoughby and was described as "looking quite distressed, he certainly wasn't happy".
Nine chairman David Haslingden said in an email to Fairfax Media today: "David Gyngell has had and continues to have the full support of the board in his role as CEO of Nine Entertainment Company."
John Alexander, deputy chairman of Packer's Crown Holdings, also arrived at Packer's house this morning.
Gyngell's wife Leila McKinnon is expected to give birth to their second child imminently.
Friendship soured
Sources close to both men told PS this morning that their life-long friendship soured soon after Packer and his second wife, Erica, announced their shock separation six months ago.
It is understood Gyngell confronted Packer about his decision to walk away from his seven-year marriage that had produced three children, an approach to which Packer did not react kindly.
Packer was seen in Los Angeles a fortnight ago greeting his ex-wife as he collected his children.
The exchange between the former spouses was described as "perfunctory" at best.
A year ago, a spokesman representing Gyngell told Fairfax Media that reports of a rift between the old friends were incorrect. However, Sunday's images would suggest otherwise.
Packer's rumoured new girlfriend, supermodel Miranda Kerr, flew back into Sydney on Friday.
Kerr said in an interview published on Sunday that Packer was a "friend", but close associates have described the pair as being romantically involved for several months.
A media bidding war broke out this morning for the rights to publish the images.
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