Tycoons in TV punch-up

A RUSSIAN tycoon punched a fellow billionaire on a television panel show after a discussion on the financial crisis degenerated into petty name-calling.

Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB operative and owner of two British newspapers, wrote on his blog that developer Sergei Polonsky earned the punch by behaving abusively throughout the recording of the programme.

In a preview clip posted on the NTV channel’s website, Polonsky is seen saying he sometimes felt like “bashing (Lebedev) in the face. Lebedev jumps to his feet, sits back down and then swiftly delivers a sucker punch, sending Polonsky to the ground.