Piers Morgan SLAPS Alastair Campbell and warns ‘I’ll take you down’ in boxing match after The Sun challenged pair

PIERS Morgan today SLAPPED Alastair Campbell as they clashed on TV ahead of their boxing match.

The Good Morning Britain presenter warned his fellow political heavyweight "I'll take you down" after The Sun challenged the pair.

Tony Blair's former spin doctor Campbell agreed to the charity boxing bout in Manchester in March.
Laying down the gauntlet on GMB, Campbell said: "Can I just cut through the macho?

"While you've been blah blah for most of your life... March 13, Sport Relief, Manchester, if they can make it happen, will you be there?"
Morgan swiftly replied: "I'll take you down any time."

ROUND ONE

Last month die-hard Remainer Campbell told The Sun Online: "I'd train hard for it, and he'd lose."

And Morgan hit back today by slapping him in the GMB studio in what co-presenter Susanna Reid joked was a “warm up”.

Morgan, 54 - eight years Campbell's junior - was quick to trade insults in a bid to intimidate his opponent.

After describing Campbell as "red and gaunt and weird" in the Sun interview, he confidently blustered about his youth and size, saying: "I'm a bigger unit with more power."

And he called on Ivan Drago, the Soviet Russian character from the Rocky films, as he conjured up thoughts of his impending victory.

'I'M WORRIED ABOUT KILLING YOU'

Moments later, Morgan started trying to get Campbell to back out of the fight: “I’m gonna need you to pass a medical first.

"I’ll take you anytime but I’m genuinely worried about killing you, which would be a hugely popular thing for the nation.”

Reid refused to take sides between Mr Campbell and her co-presenter:
She said: “I’m not going to be one of those girls who holds up the rounds in a bikini. I’m not doing that.”

Punters were quick to pick their winners on Twitter.

PugMoomin reflected: "Piers looked frightened. Campbell looked assured.

"My view is Piers will find an excuse or attempt to make it farcical to deflect his underlying cowardice."

While Neil Hendry commented: "I'm backing Campbell, in the hope that he can finally shut Piers' big mouth".